News Releases & Statements

American Beverage Association Statement on U.S. Conference of Mayors' Resolution

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2009

Contacts: 
ABA Press Office
(202) 463-6770

American Beverage Association Statement on U.S. Conference of Mayors' Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The beverage industry today expressed disappointment at the U.S. Conference of Mayors' passage of a resolution that funds a study to look at creating disparate pricing structures for sales of municipal water for water bottling.

"The beverage industry is a strong supporter of municipal water systems," said Kevin Keane, senior vice president of the American Beverage Association.  "Unfortunately, this resolution unfairly targets an industry that is not only a minimal user when compared with other industries, but already pays its fair share as a customer of the municipal water supply," 

Our industry is committed to being a leader, in responsible water management and ensuring a minimal environmental impact from the production of our many beverage products.  We are minimal water users, and, while water is a key ingredient in all of our products, our manufacturing facilities use very little water compared to other industries. In fact, the beverage industry accounts for only about one gallon out of every 3,300 gallons withdrawn from ground or surface water sources.

"It is in all of our best interests to protect our nation's water resources, here and around the globe," Keane said.  "Our industry is committed to doing its part and it shows through our water conservation and efficiency efforts."

Our industry is providing this leadership collectively as well as through the individual efforts of our member companies, including The Coca-Cola Company, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Nestlé Waters North America and PepsiCo. Some examples include:

• The Coca-Cola Company has committed to ensuring that, by 2010, 100 percent of the water returned from its manufacturing process meets stringent water treatment standards.
• Dr Pepper Snapple Group is upgrading its water filtration systems to maximize the purity of water in its beverages while at the same time minimizing the amount of wastewater discharge. In addition, the company is exploring new ways to use recovered water, such as for plant irrigation and cooling systems.
• Nestlé Waters has committed more than $2 million toward the Nature Conservancy's sustainable water program and land conservation in Maine. They also are protecting natural water resources and implementing agricultural "green" guidelines in water resource areas.
• PepsiCo's beverage businesses reduced water consumption by 9 percent in 2007. In fact, the company has in place a global eco-efficiency strategy for resource conservation (RECON) within its operations that helps optimize water use through improved methods and technologies.

• The American Beverage Association is a founding member of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, a U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to efficient and sustainable water use in the country. 

Bottled water is a healthy, convenient beverage option that can play an important role in keeping Americans and communities hydrated, especially during periods of extreme temperature or natural disasters.  In addition, bottled water comes in 100 percent recyclable containers. 

Further, despite some common misconceptions, purified bottled water is much more than just tap water.  It is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency responsible for the

safety of all foods and beverages Americans consume.   Further, purified bottled water puts municipal water, which is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, through a rigorous purification process to remove impurities, such as salts and chlorides, and enhance its taste and freshness. These processes can include reverse osmosis, distillation or deionization, and create a consistent taste consumers enjoy.

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The American Beverage Association is the trade association representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute non-alcoholic beverages in the United States.

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