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Board passes first reading to restrict sale of small single-use plastic water bottles on city property
Summary
The Board passed an ordinance on first reading to restrict sales and distribution of single-use plastic bottled water on city property, set a city policy to expand public tap access and bar City funds from purchasing bottled water; several waivers and multi-year compliance windows were added for venues with limited water access.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed on first reading an ordinance aimed at reducing single-use plastic water bottles on city property, setting city policy to increase public tap access and prohibiting the use of City funds to purchase bottled water. The ordinance passed with an 11–0 roll-call vote.
Supervisor David Chiu, the ordinance’s lead author, told the board the measure would: restrict sale or distribution of bottled water on city property; set city policy to increase availability of drinking water in public areas; and bar city funds from purchasing bottled water. Chiu framed the measure as a targeted, first-in-the-nation step to reduce the environmental cost of bottled water in public facilities and events.
The ordinance includes phased compliance windows and waiver authority for sites where immediate compliance would be infeasible. For example, venues lacking ready access to tap water receive extra time; large events and certain venues such as Moscone Center were identified as needing more time to comply. Violations would carry administrative penalties: officials said the first violation could be subject to a fine up to $500 and a second violation within 12 months up to $750. The Department of the Environment was named as the enforcement agency.
Supporters emphasized San Francisco’s tap water quality and existing measures to expand bottle-filling stations in new buildings. "In San Francisco, we're incredibly fortunate to have access to healthy Hetch Hetchy water," Chiu said, noting city testing protocols and cost differences between tap and bottle water. Co-sponsor Supervisor Mar and others praised labor and environmental partners who worked on amendments.
Several supervisors, including Supervisor Jane Kim and Supervisor Christina Olague, said the city should be mindful of smaller nonprofit organizations and aging cultural facilities that may lack immediate access to water or the funds to retrofit, and they praised waiver language and phased compliance windows. Supervisors also discussed using City Hall space for public meetings to reduce a need for bottled water at smaller events.
The ordinance passed on first reading. The item will return for a second reading and final passage per the city's legislative schedule.
