Water Bottle Ban Takes Effect In Falmouth On Sept. 1

FALMOUTH, MA — Starting Sept. 1, Falmouth businesses will no longer be allowed to sell drinking water in single-use plastic bottles.

The ban was adopted by Falmouth Town Meeting voters in Sept. 2 and applies to all non-carbonated, unflavored water in bottles that hold less than a gallon.

Falmouth will be the 10th town on Cape Cod to adopt a commercial ban on single-use plastic water bottles. According to Sustainable Practices, the organization that spearheaded the ban, Brewster, Eastham, Harwich, Orleans, Provincetown, Chatham, Sandwich, Dennis and Wellfleet have all adopted bans as well.

Town officials said the Falmouth Health Department will enforce the ban and sent reminder notices to all town businesses with food permits.

Businesses that do not comply with the new bylaw are subject to fines of up to $300 a day, depending on the number of violations. First-time violators will get a written warning. Second-time offenders will face a $150 fine, and third and all subsequent offenses will cost businesses $300 a day.

If there are emergencies affecting the availability or quality of drinking water, town officials said they'll make exemptions until seven days after the emergency declaration ends.

The water bottle ban isn't the only plastic-related ban set to hit Falmouth this year. On Oct. 1, nips will no longer be allowed to be sold at town liquor stores.

Town meeting members in September 2020 voted for the ban to reduce litter. The Falmouth Litter Reduction Team conducted a study of roadside trash and found that nips make up about 32 percent of all roadside litter.