Financing for Clean Water Trust Fund Must Come From Taxes on Non-Discretionary Water-Based Bottled Beverages

Press Statement: This week, the United States Government Accountability Office issued a report to Congress outlining options for generating the $10 billion in annual revenue needed to establish a Clean Water Trust Fund to upgrade our nation’s aging water infrastructure system. The report, entitled Clean Water Infrastructure: A Variety of Issues Need to Be Considered When Designing a Clean Water Trust Fund highlights a number of sources for Congress to consider, including taxes on bottled beverages, fertilizers, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and water appliances. Food & Water Watch recognizes the need to draw from diverse funding sources to finance this critical undertaking. It is our suggestion however, that any funding package that Congress arrives at must include an excise tax on water-based bottled beverages.