[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Don't Drink the Water

[Email subscription to blog articles]

Posted by Speed Gibson:
Don't Drink the Water
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1245807003.shtml


   I always loved going to visit my grandparents in South Minneapolis,
   except for one thing: the water. I grew up in St. Louis Park, which
   has well water. Minneapolis has river water, furnished by large,
   modern water works facilities in Fridley and Columbia Heights. But as
   the Minneapolis water official said in the Fox 9 report you may have
   seen, that distinct "Purity of Essence" still sneaks through from time
   to time. To be fair, more than one brand of "premium" water has been
   found to be nothing but tap water.
   Actually, [1]tapMpls isn't claiming it tastes great or even OK.
   They're just saying you're stupid if you buy bottled water because of
   the monetary and environmental costs. Seriously!
   No, what's stupid is spending $180,000 on this so unprofessional
   campaign. The web site has four sophomoric vignettes that remind me of
   those skits our 10 year old children had to come up with in the
   D.A.R.E. program. I also notice that they don't talk up Minneapolis
   water at all. You would pass their social consciousness tests with
   Eden Prairie or North Oaks water, too. If you're going to do something
   like this, at least do it well. Above all, push your customer's brand.
   Why do I get the idea that somebody hired their friends?
   Why do this at all? Against a total annual consumption of 25 billion
   gallons, this isn't going to generate much incremental revenue. By
   costing local retailers sales of bottled water, they may even foster a
   net loss of tax revenue to Minneapolis. It certainly appears fiscally
   irresponsible in this economy, especially when you claim to be short
   of money.
   Oh but not to worry says Mayor R.T. Rybak. The money comes from a
   dedicated water capital account, money that can't be spent for police
   or libraries, for example. But why spend it at all? To push back on
   the DFL who claims unallotment wasn't intended to be used like
   Pawlenty is doing, certainly this fund was not intended for such a
   silly, non-essential use, either. Save it for real needs, like pipes.
   The best solution of all of course is the market, which has many
   alternatives between high cost water in little bottles and low cost
   blends with natural fish oils like in Minneapolis. There's the 5
   gallon bottles like we personally use, home filters, or even the free
   Glenwood spring along Theodore Wirth Parkway.

References

   1. http://www.tapmpls.com/