Here is an urban battle you do not hear about too often -- especially in Milwaukee -- banning the sale of bottled water. Toronto last week announced a ban on the sale and distribution of bottled water on city premises. In return, the city promised to make tap water available in all city facilities.

Milwaukeeans, prompted in part by the memory of the cryptosporidium outbreak, have a large preference for water in the bottle instead of from the tap. The trend is mightier in Canada, where 17 municipalities from five provinces ban the bottle and 45 others are indicating interest, as well.

In the States, Seattle and San Francisco are the biggest cities to stop buying bottled water for buildings and events.

Ban backers say bottled water is wasteful and unnecessary and that steps are needed to ensure that new public buildings are built with "bubblers" and water taps. One study found people who drank bottled water daily could save $1,400 a year by tapping the tap.

A 2006 study estimated that Americans throw away more than 60 million plastic water bottles a day.

Twice the Effort Pays Off: Ald. Tony Zielinski got his way for the second time in his effort to prevent Bay View's AK Food Mart from getting a beer license.

In his first shot at opposing the license, Zielinski enlisted a small collection of block watch leaders and property owners that were not really from the neighborhood around the store, which is located at 2305 S. Howell Ave.

AK's owner Parshotam Singh, who has been in business at the corner roughly 18 years, received a license from the City's Licenses Committee Nov. 23, but Zielinski got enough support from his colleagues to have the license sent back to the committee at last month's Common Council meeting.

Zielinski on Monday had more ducks in a row, bringing in even more business owners and income-property owners from the immediate area at Lincoln and Howell to testify against the license. Opponents said that panhandlers and loiterers would be attracted to the area and were already there.

There were no reported police incidents at the store and Singh said Zielinski never mentioned a loitering issue.

Mike Maierle, with the Department of City Development, said he had his boss' permission to testify and noted that the Comprehensive Southeast Side plan calls for something other than a convenience store at the location.

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6 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by Joscasta on Dec. 19, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (report)

Alba, I am so in agreement with you, ever since he decided he didn't want Empowerment Village in his district which is housing for mentally ill, he has worked hard to keep anyone that doesn't fit his idea of what Bayview is out of there.

Posted by alba on Dec. 18, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (report)

Zielinski is a thug who uses his power to help his political friends and to punish those who wont play ball Zielinski style. Very similar to Mr. McGee.

Posted by Chrisna on Dec. 18, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. (report)

just to clarify the water thing: these are bans on the city governments buying/selling bottled water for use on their own premises (in SF, gov't agencies use tap water. In Toronto, they won't sell bottled water at their civic center). People can still buy it from stores and use it in their homes.

Posted by curlyboy1978 on Dec. 18, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. (report)

I say no, but personally it's because I live in an old apt building and the tap comes out cloudy and rusty! Just cause San Fran does it, I suppose every city in the country is going to try to be hip & ban them (like Madison).

Posted by brunocarlson on Dec. 17, 2008 at 9:49 p.m. (report)

Banning bottled water in Milwaukee would contradict Milwaukee Press Club's desperate need to have their new bottled water named.