About Take Back the Tap!
Take Back the Tap is an initiative that aims to highlight tap water as a resource that is safe and reliable for all UCSB students, faculty, staff, and our community. We believe that water is a right and something that should be accessible and affordable to all.
Where can you find Tap Water on Campus?
The UCSB Interactive Campus Map has all the water bottle refilling and water fountain locations on campus. You can visit that map here.
Remember to bring your water bottle when possible so you can take water with you throughout the day. Less than 30% of single use plastic water bottles are successfully recycled in the United States.
Is Goleta Water Safe?
Yes! Goleta Water District has very high standards for tap water. These standards and records of their adherence to these standards are publicly reported at least four times a year and are available to access online:
Consumer Confidence Report
Facts and Figures About Goleta Water
Value of Water Access through a Public Utility
Public utilities are subject to more public control measures and regulations than private commodities. Utilities also have greater restrictions on pricing and are subsidized to allow for greater access to that utility for all members of our community. The board members of our local water district are voted on by our community based on their ability to serve its needs. On the other hand, we want to highlight that the board members of private water companies are not elected and have legal responsibilities to ensure the profitability of their companies. We also recognize that though filtered water is available in some select locations on campus and in the community, the majority of water access points available are unfiltered water stations. Filtration at the point of the water access point puts the responsibility on the individual (for example at home) and/or on many separate entities to fund the installation and ongoing maintenance of expensive filtration systems. Low-income people are much less likely to be able to afford this. With this campaign, we instead choose to focus on improving access and quality of water for all members of our community through the public utility of our local Water District. In this way, we can ensure all community members served have equal benefits.