In an effort to reduce the 2.5 million plastic water bottles tossed by Americans every hour, the Madison (Wis.) Water Utility (MWU) has launched a contest encouraging residents to use reusable bottles.
With 850 miles of pipe, seven pump stations and three ground-level reservoirs, the utility provides water service to 66,500 homes, hospitals and businesses. This year, MWU is spending $7.5 million to rebuild and renew the city’s water pipes as the aging infrastructure has taken its toll.
“For the cost of one store-bought bottle of water, residents can fill a reusable bottle with Madison tap water 5,000 times,” notes a press
