Communities Rise to the Water Challenge

Despite the seemingly disparate views of how to slake the public thirst, the WRAC and MVCC Green Committee worked together to create sustainable options at Monday night's Town Hall Meeting with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, which pleased everyone. 

A flurry of emails prior to the event indicated a plan to set out the ubiquitous plastic water bottles which have, unfortunately, become an expected amenity rather than being viewed as the public menace that they are. The WRAC showed sensitivity and flexibility at Monday night's Town Hall Meeting by considering the request of the MVCC Green Committee and ultimately removing the bottles from the menu completely.

I, for one, greatly appreciated the willingness of WRAC to change their plan and make space for the giant Igloo full of LADWP tap water.  A Mavea water pitcher was used to filter water for people who preferred less of a chlorine taste.  

What a pleasure to look around the room and see people holding recyclable paper cups rather than single-use plastic water bottles!  It was eerily like being transported to an episode of The Wonder Years, a time when plastic had not invaded our daily existence and the planet was not yet suffering so greatly.  

I hope that the average citizen realizes that the damage done to our sea life by single-use plastic water bottles is genuine and significant, and that finding eco-friendly alternatives is worth the extra effort.

The MVCC Green Committee plans to gift a water-filtering pitcher to the mayor's office so they can continue to enjoy filtered water with a small carbon footprint.  

It is worth noting that most of the people who chose water over soda at the Town Hall meeting didn't seem to care if it was filtered or not. Thanks to everyone who helped move our communities one step closer to a sustainable Los Angeles.