Contact: Annie Weinberg, Food & Water Watch/Take Back the Tap 703 350 3778 Dan Muller, Peace Action Maine/Take Back the Tap Portland, 917-217-6809

What: The launch of Take Back the Tap in Portland- an initiative that exposes the myths and dangers of the bottled water industry, celebrates and protects Maine watersheds, and encourages a reinvestment in public water systems as a national priority. Restaurants have joined the campaign by pledging to take still bottled water off their menus, and to proudly serve local Portland tap water instead. On Monday, Portland’s City Council also passed a resolution in favor of a dedicated federal funding for tap water systems. Take Back the Tap encourages tap water over the bottled brands as the best choice for our health, our economy, our environment, and our communities.

Who: David Marshall, City Councilor, City of Portland Dan Muller, Executive Director, Peace Action Maine Annie Weinberg, National Organizer, Food & Water Watch

When: 10AM, Wednesday, August 20th, 2008.

Where: Farmer’s Market, Monument Square, Portland, ME

Please visit www.takebackthetap.org for more information on the campaign.

Food & Water Watch is a nonprofit consumer rights organization based in Washington, D.C. that challenges the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources. Food & Water Watch is asking restaurants, cities, citizens, and organizations across the country to take back the tap. Visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org