Beutler orders city departments to switch to tap water

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BY KENDRA WALTKE / Lincoln Journal Star

Water coolers for city staff are on their way out.

What began as a green idea turned into a mayoral directive that’s just as much about taxpayer dollars and public perception as environmental friendliness.

The city could save several thousand  dollars, and the public won’t have to wonder why its taxes are being spent on filtered water for city employees — and if the city’s tap water is truly safe to drink.

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Mayor Chris Beutler (LJS File)

Mayor Chris Beutler (LJS File)

Especially since the city wastewater department is among the biggest spenders on drinking water.

An executive order by Mayor Chris Beutler directed all city departments to stop buying water and switch to tap water for human consumption. Any exceptions must be approved by the mayor.

The directive cited the high quality of city water, which meets state and federal standards, and the importance of employees showing confidence in the municipal water supply.

“It’s just a strong desire by the mayor that the city needs to walk the talk,” said Gene Hanlon, the staff resource for the mayor’s environmental task force.

The change began in connection with Earth Day, as a plan to use less bottled water and reduce waste. But the talk soon led to water coolers used in some departments.

“It is inappropriate to use taxpayer dollars to buy water systems, especially when our water is as good as it is,” said mayoral aide Trish Owen.

The mayor wanted to target multi-gallon coolers used indoors, not single-serving bottles,  which tend to be used off-site  and only when needed, she said.

A cursory check found the city spends nearly $9,000 per year on water, according to city purchasing agent Vince Mejer.

He said the wastewater and health departments are among the biggest buyers, spending about $4,400 on five Culligan water coolers at wastewater/solid waste sites.

Utilities Coordinator Gary Brandt said the practice began years ago when staff complained about the taste and smell of tap water at the Northeast treatment plant, which, back then, was at the end of a little-used water line.

“They showed us brown ice cubes,” Brandt said. “It was a trade-off between constantly flushing the line or getting a smaller water cooler.”

Now, more water use in the area has solved that problem.

People also turned up their noses at the in-town Teresa Street facility, where long underground water lines also can leave an odor.

Members of the public at the plant for meetings or tours can be skeptical about drinking water from the pipes at a waste facility, he said, and bringing in water is the sole choice at a sludge treatment site that lacks city water service.

Still, Brandt said, losing the coolers shouldn’t be a problem.

“We can operate without that.”

Health Department Director Bruce Dart said his department buys bottled water to drink on-site at hazardous waste collections or during hazardous materials calls.

No water coolers or water bottles are provided for employees in the office, he said.

“Lincoln water is extremely safe,” Dart added. “It’s also fluoridated, which bottled water is not.”

Mayoral aide Rick Hoppe said the mayor will make exceptions for some uses.

“We’re not going to save every penny of that $9,000, but we will sure save a big hunk of it,” he said.

Hanlon said the change was about saving resources in general.

“It’s my understanding that not that many city offices are doing it.”

Reach Kendra Waltke at 473-7303 or kwaltke@journalstar.com.