"Clean tap water is something you take for granted."

March 20, 2007 8:56 AM

Tap Project. What if every glass of water you drank quenched someone else's thirst? Looks like its only official in NYC restaurants this Thursday, but hopefully it will expand to other cities.
posted by allkindsoftime (20 comments total)

Sounds like a cool idea, but the map is so hilariously emblematic of the NYC view of the world that I can't help but potentially derail.
posted by DU at 9:07 AM on March 20, 2007

DU: care to explain the NYC view of the world?
posted by bhnyc at 9:18 AM on March 20, 2007

I'm not sure what you mean. Only NYC restaurants are participating in this NYC-only-for-now project? Or that only southern-half Manhattan restaurants are participating? Hilarious!
posted by Plutor at 9:19 AM on March 20, 2007

I think this is a very good idea. A water scientist I used to know would always say that future wars will be fought over water, not oil.
posted by pinky at 9:28 AM on March 20, 2007

Maybe the humor is that New Jersey is on that map. Hilarious!
posted by bhnyc at 9:29 AM on March 20, 2007

World Day for Water sponsored by the United Nations and the US Fund for Unicef. Where the entire universe consists of Manhattan. Just found it funny is all.
posted by DU at 9:41 AM on March 20, 2007

LOLCHARITY! What part of this are we picking on?
posted by sonofslim at 9:46 AM on March 20, 2007

I applaud the sentiment, but I won't drink water. fish fuck in it.
posted by jonmc at 9:48 AM on March 20, 2007

Restaurants should just do this every day and not tell anyone. Offer bottle waters on their menus, serve plain tap water when someone orders it, and donate their money to charity. No one will notice the difference, according to ABC: "There was actually no difference between the New York City tap water and the bottled waters that we evaluated."
posted by scottreynen at 10:05 AM on March 20, 2007

I won't drink water. fish fuck in it.

My fish fuck in Fiji, the waterbed of water.

Most of the participating restaurants are fairly high-end establishments where many of the customers order bottled water. Are the waitstaff going to go against custom and discourage this in order to raise dollars?
posted by liam at 10:07 AM on March 20, 2007

I applaud the sentiment, but I won't drink water. fish fuck in it.

... and sometimes they miss.
posted by hangashore at 10:08 AM on March 20, 2007

DU: "World Day for Water sponsored by the United Nations and the US Fund for Unicef. Where the entire universe consists of Manhattan. Just found it funny is all."

Ever hear the phrase "Think globally, act locally"? Also, you might not know this, but the UN headquarters is in Manhattan. Also, Manhattan is in the US. And also in the world.
posted by Plutor at 10:25 AM on March 20, 2007

Sound like a nice idea. Doubt I'll participate, since I rarely eat out on Thursday nights, but I like the idea nonetheless.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:35 AM on March 20, 2007 [1 favorite]

.. and sometimes they miss.

Actually, most times they miss. I think a good deal of fish insemination happens externally, no?
posted by spicynuts at 10:41 AM on March 20, 2007

I applaud the sentiment, but I won't drink water. fish fuck in it.
posted by jonmc at 11:48 AM on March 20

You're going to become profoundly upset when you find out where milk comes from.

And that Dewar's... you don't want me to tell you where it's been.
posted by Ynoxas at 10:50 AM on March 20, 2007

1. The default alignment of the map centers on the location with the greatest number of participants.

2. You can navigate for different views of the map.

3. If practicality, clarity, and usefulness are part of the NYC view of the world, then this map does an excellent job reflecting that view.

4. New York water is better than a lot of bottled waters. It's certainly more regulated.

5. This article in Business Week gives a lot more context than the Tap Project's website. Among the details that help clarify the project's design and scope:

Nearly 300 city restaurants— including New York's top-notch Le Bernardin, Craft, Alto, Vong, and the Four Seasons—will place postcards on each table describing the NY Tap Project campaign (with images of children and water from photo agency Magnum) with a blue sticker that allows diners to write the amount of a donation. The donation can be added to the restaurant bill, or the card can be taken home and a donation can be made online or mailed directly to UNICEF.

The Tap Project was sparked by a challenge from Esquire magazine editors to David Droga, founder of New York-based advertising agency Droga5, to invent a brand out of nothing that could also be "a positive change agent."

New York, a city renowned for its clean tap water, is the first and this year's only stop for the Tap Project. Each of the participating restaurants is expected to raise $200 that day...next year, UNICEF plans to expand the campaign to U.S. cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, and Houston—all of which, like New York, have clean tap water. And in 2009, the organization plans to take it international, to cities such as London and Paris.

posted by Miko at 11:14 AM on March 20, 2007

And honey too. Dear sweet Lord, don't get me started on where honey comes from.
posted by pax digita at 12:38 PM on March 20, 2007

More on World Water Day and water conservation:

World Water Day (UN site)
World Water Day (US and Canada with local events)
water saving tips
Learn more about the water cycle
Another charity for related donations

You might also check out your local watershed association - everybody is in a watershed.
posted by nekton at 1:09 PM on March 20, 2007

I have to wonder if all the money people are compelled to spend on bottled water in the developing world would be enough to provide clean drinking water for all. Anyone have any statistics?
posted by mdonley at 1:53 PM on March 20, 2007

That would be damn interesting. I suppose Starbucks and their Ethos water might know something about that...
posted by allkindsoftime at 5:36 PM on March 20, 2007