Re: Serving water in restaurants only when asked for...

[Bruce England]

Hello Marn Yee, Steve, et al:
During your research, did you determine whether there is a law in
California establishing that restaurants must serve water to
customers *only* if they ask for it? I run into this a lot, where I
practically have to fight to keep the water glass away from my table!
Bye for now,
Bruce E

[steve bishop]

From what I understand there is an ordinance regarding water at restaurants, but like other ordinances for water conservation, it is not enforced.

I feel this one in particular is not worth enforcing.  Perhaps serving city water at restaurants should even be encouraged.

- It only represents 2% of MV's total water use.
- It may inspire people to stay with city water rather than order bottled or other energy intensive beverages
- It's safer. Tap water goes through several regulatory hurdles.  There are very few regulations for bottled water.
- Enforcing this may alienate restaurant owners and their customers, preventing them from adopting other 'sustainability' efforts.

If restaurants referred to it as 'Hetch Hetchy Water' rather than 'tap' or 'city' water, that may be worth enforcing.   I'm only half joking here -- the point being, it's hard to make sustainability desirable to MV residents by enforcing a sacrifice.

Steve

[Nacho]

I agree,

This particular ordinance just makes no real sense. I do not think
restaurants serving water to people "whitout permission" is the real
problem with water. Actually, water is being treated for being drunk
rather than to grow a rain forest in the front yard.

Regards,
Nacho.

On Oct 12, 10:28 pm, "steve bishop" <sbishop...@gmail.com> wrote:
> From what I understand there is an ordinance regarding water at restaurants,
> but like other ordinances for water conservation, it is not enforced.
>
> I feel this one in particular is not worth enforcing. Perhaps serving city
> water at restaurants should even be encouraged.
>
> - It only represents 2% of MV's total water use.
> - It may inspire people to stay with city water rather than order bottled or
> other energy intensive beverages
> - It's safer. Tap water goes through several regulatory hurdles. There are
> very few regulations for bottled water.
> - Enforcing this may alienate restaurant owners and their customers,
> preventing them from adopting other 'sustainability' efforts.
>
> If restaurants referred to it as 'Hetch Hetchy Water' rather than 'tap' or
> 'city' water, that may be worth enforcing. I'm only half joking here --
> the point being, it's hard to make sustainability desirable to MV residents
> by enforcing a sacrifice.
>
> Steve
>

[Marn-Yee Lee]

Yeah - let's focus first on the biggest issues (hence biggest bang for the energy / buck) -- which is landscaping in our city.

--
Best regards,
Marn-Yee

[ED]

Annual Creeks and Watershed Conference

We are pleased to Announce our Annual Creeks and Watershed Conference to be held at the Pioneer High School Performing Arts Center November 15th 2008 from 9:00 to 3:00. You can get all of the details or register for the event at our website http://www.sccreeks.org/new.htm or by contacting Mondy Lariz at mo...@sccreeks.org (408) 358-6963 Click here to see some of last year’s presentations.  Please pass the word on to all of your friends and neighbors.

 

[elizabeth s]

Hello Bruce,

 

Below is some info regarding your question.  Every drop counts and we must speak up about it.  Restaurant owners and employees need some education about the issue and hopefully we can start re enforcing... 

 

Current Water Use Restrictions
Five water use restrictions are currently incorporated into the Mountain View City Code (These restrictions are enforced on a complaint basis):

1. Using hoses without an automatic shut-off device for washing automobiles or other vehicles, driveways, patios or sidewalks (MVCC Section 35.28.4.3).
2. Wasting potable water by allowing it to run off into gutters, sidewalks, streets or other hard-surfaced areas (MVCC Section 35.28.4.2).
3. Serving water in restaurants, except on request (MVCC Section 35.28.4.4).
4. Wasting water because of broken or defective plumbing, sprinklers, watering or irrigation systems (MVCC Section 35.28.4.1).
5. Installing single-pass cooling systems on new construction (MVCC Section 35.28.4.5).

 

Thanks,

Elizabeth Sarmiento

(650) 704-3462

On Sun, Oct 12, 2008 at 4:05 PM, Bruce England <bken...@earthlink.net> wrote:

Hello Marn Yee, Steve, et al:
During your research, did you determine whether there is a law in
California establishing that restaurants must serve water to
customers *only* if they ask for it? I run into this a lot, where I
practically have to fight to keep the water glass away from my table!
Bye for now,
Bruce E

--

Elizabeth
"To understand water is to understand the cosmos, the marvels of nature, and life itself".
-- Masaru Emoto