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1700
Diagonal Road, Suite 650
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-683-5213
Fax: 703-683-4074
Web: www.bottledwater.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2005
Contact: Bridget Wells, 703-647-4607
BOTTLED
WATER INDUSTRY PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO
HURRICANE STRICKEN REGION
Millions of Bottles Donated to Hurricane Katrina Victims
Statement
of IBWA President Joseph K. Doss:
"The
bottled water industry has been hard at work since the first
Hurricane Katrina alerts were issued to provide assistance
to those in need. Many IBWA members have depleted existing
inventories and are now bottling water around the clock to
help meet the demand for clean, safe drinking water. They
have trucks either on-site or heading to the region with millions
and millions of bottled water servings in 16-ounce, 2.5 gallon
and five gallon sizes.
"The
bottled water industry is proud to assist in providing needed
drinking water relief to affected areas in Louisiana, Mississippi
and Alabama. We are in a unique position of manufacturing
a product necessary for human survival; and we are doing everything
in our power to get donated bottled water to where it is needed
most.
"At
this point, we and other industries who supply relief and
recovery supplies are finding that federal and state agencies
cannot give specific information as to where bottled water
and items should be delivered, who to contact, etc. IBWA has
raised this issue directly with an official at the Department
of Homeland Security, who acknowledged that there are logistical
problems and assured us that steps would be taken to correct
this situation. Bottled water industry transports are faced
with the same challenges of damaged infrastructure and limited
access to affected areas as others involved in relief efforts.
"Bottled
water companies have been, and continue to be, aggressive
in our efforts to get bottled water to communities in need.
In case after case, bottled water deliveries are being coordinated
by IBWA members and staff directly with local officials and
citizens in affected areas, circumventing challenges encountered
by the bottled water industry when working through formal
channels.
"Members
of the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) are
reporting that more than four million (4,000,000) containers
of bottled water are either en route or arrived at the devastated
region. With supply efforts certain to continue into the foreseeable
future, the bottled water industry without question-without
hesitation-is proud to do our part to relieve the suffering
of our fellow Americans."
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The
International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is the authoritative
source of information about all types of bottled waters. Founded
in 1958, IBWA's membership includes U.S. and international
bottlers, distributors and suppliers. IBWA is committed to
working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
which regulates bottled water as a packaged food product,
and state governments to set stringent standards for safe,
high quality bottled water products. In addition to FDA and
state regulations, the Association requires member bottlers
to adhere to the IBWA Model Code, which mandates additional
standards and practices that in some cases are more stringent
than federal and state regulations. A key feature of the IBWA
Model Code is an annual, unannounced plant inspection by an
independent, third party organization. Consumers can contact
IBWA at 1-800-WATER-11 or log onto IBWA's web site (www.bottledwater.org)
for more information about bottled water and a list of members'
brands. Media inquiries can be directed to Bridget B. Wells
at 703-683-5213 ext. 107.
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