The growing backlash against bottled water as an environmental abomination is stretching into some of NYC's premiere eating and drinking establishments. Ten years ago it was the de rigeur of fashion to be toting a bottle of water everywhere one went; now it marks you as a polluting pariah. According to the New York Post, bottled water is being banned at places like the Waverly Inn, Il Buco, Del Posto, Gemma in the Bowery Hotel, Bobo, Gusto Organics and Broadway East.
But for those who were too embarrassed to simply choose tap water when asked by a waiter instead of a $12 bottle of Pellegrino, never fear. These restaurants will now offer diners the option of ordering tap water that has been specially filtered on the premises-- through filtration systems that can cost more than $10,000--for $5 or $6 dollars a glass. It seems just like the other week that $5 for a glass of soda seemed outrageous.
The growing trend in restaurants is a natural extension of the backlash against bottled water. The Park Slope Food Co-Op will be voting soon to ban the sale of bottled water in its store, and many corporations are installing their own filtration systems in the name of being green. Also, the sales of home water filters like Brita are reportedly surging.
