Drink Local. Drink Tap.©
Mission Statement:
“To create societal change at the level of the individual cultivated and nurtured through outreach activities, educational campaigns, and regional efforts to reconnect people to the Great Lakes and local drinking water.”

Why water?
Water has been called the “new oil” as shortages increase, but there are numerous reasons to pay attention and protect what we have. Alone, the Great Lakes contain 84% of North America’s fresh surface water and 21% of the world’s fresh surface water. Protecting one fifth of the fresh surface water in the world is a critical step in moving sustainability into the future and ensuring future generations have clean, fresh water.


  • Our Waters
  • Bottled Water
  • History
  • Four Focus Areas
  • Goal/Objectives
  • Active Members
Did you know…

The Great Lakes contain:

  • 6 quadrillion gallons of fresh water;
  • one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water (only the polar ice caps and Lake Baikal in Siberia contain more);
  • 95 percent of the U.S. fresh water supply;
  • Spread evenly across the continental U.S., the Great Lakes would submerge the country under about 9.5 feet of water.
Did you know this about BOTTLED WATER?

  1. Every year over $100 Billion dollars is spent on bottled water world-wide.
  2. The United Nations estimates that if given just 1/6th of that money for one year, $15 billion, they could cut in half the number of people without access to clean water.

    Bottled water is NO healthier than tap water
  3. In theory, bottled water in the United States falls under the regulatory authority of the Food and Drug Administration.
    In practice, about 70 percent of bottled water never crosses state lines for sale, making it exempt from FDA oversight.
  4. “…A bottled water source is often tested only once per year for contaminants
    versus the required monthly testing of tap under the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Act, bottled water manufacturers do not have to report testing results to consumers, and the quality of the water is subjective.“
  5. 17 million barrels of oil per year are used for plastic H2O bottles in the US every year…equal to 1 million American cars driving per year. (This is just oil, not counting extraction, processing, impact to communities, ecosystems, and the environment OR the waste)
  6. One billion people lack access to safe water…why increase pollution to waterways with unneeded plastic and make things worse?
  7. Over 70% of the world’s fresh water supply is devoted to agriculture…why support production of plastic that is water and energy intensive?
Drink Local. Drink Tap.© was formed in August of 2009 as result of the first annual Drink Local. Drink Tap.© Summit in Cleveland, Ohio. The summit connected 700 community stakeholders the appreciative inquiry process to discuss the future of Cleveland. The three day summit produced 20 working groups focused on key areas submitted by participants to begin in sustainability planning for the city and the region. The development of a collective vision for 2019 emerged as Cleveland becoming a “Green City on a Blue Lake”.

Drink Local. Drink Tap.© has continued to move forward with energy, goal development, community awareness, outreach and activities through the created “Drink Local. Drink Tap.©” campaign. The energized group includes community representatives from non-profit, for-profit, entrepreneurial, government, residential, and student backgrounds which provides a strong foundation for the program.

Currently, the Great Lakes and connected watersheds face a region that has invasive species, combined sewer overflow issues, runoff pollution, dead zones and other air and water concerns. Educational and awareness outreach programs are a critical piece to begin to raise levels of ecological understanding and environmental knowledge. Programs that are able to assist in reconnecting people to Lake Erie and the Great Lakes Basin watersheds can serve the purpose of raising the level of society-wide consciousness in relation to issues Great Lakes waters are facing.

As of July 2010, the Drink Local. Drink Tap.© group has been adopted as a program that functions out of theInstitute of Applied Phenomenology in Science and Technology (IAP). This partnership gives the group a fiscal home, web presence, outreach support and a stronger functioning foundation.

IAP History:
As of July 2010, the Drink Local. Drink Tap.© group has been adopted as a program that functions out of the Institute of Applied Phenomenology in Science and Technology (IAP). This partnership gives the group additional strength that comes from the Institution's Founding Fellows, Research Associates and Members who act as the program’s research and think tank for activities related to phenomenological change, policy analysis and development, and sustainability.

The Institute’s adoption of the Drink Local. Drink Tap.© program strengthens the collective efforts to create societal change at the level of the individual. Additional strength comes from Founding Fellow, Dr. Nicholas Zingale, who has completed over three decades of related research and activities related to phenomenological change, policy analysis and development, and sustainability.
Community Awareness will occur through the “Drink Local. Drink Tap.©” campaign and events involving children, adults, and varying socio-economic backgrounds. These event efforts will consist of informational tables, interactive games, face painting, pledges, family nights on the lakefront, and lunchroom and meeting retrofits within businesses. The funding will come from membership donations, business supporters, merchandise sales, and collaborative partners.

Community Communication will occur through special event tabling, web site hosting, monthly constant contact email newsletters, merchandise sales, and collaborative partnerships with other organizations and groups that will help distribute information or financially support communication efforts. Funding will also come from private donors, grants, merchandise sales, and member support.

Community Education will occur though all of the awareness and communication efforts. Face to face interaction is most critical here and has the potential to reach communities through public or school screenings of educational movies such as “Tapped” or “Flow” in libraries, schools, and community meetings. Funding will come from environmental education grants, foundations, local businesses, membership donations, merchandise sales, and other donations to the IAP.

Policy Review will occur though communications with Great Lakes basin water groups, elected officials, and member knowledge and research. Staff time may be required to meet with, speak with, or advocate for improving Great Lakes Basin and Northeast Ohio water policy. Any funding potentially needed will come from specific donors interested in this focus area or membership fees if available.
The goal of the Drink Local. Drink Tap.© program is to create societal shifts away from destructive human habits through the reconnection of people to the planet. Removing the manufactured demand of plastic bottled water, reconnecting people to Lake Erie in water-safe ways though eco-friendly lakefront activities and helping advocate for partnerships and policy that protect this resource provide a comprehensive and focused path to reaching the group’s goals and objectives.

Objectives Include:

  1. Providing information to the public about the dangers of bottled water;
  2. Promoting the use of tap water through the “Drink Local. Drink Tap.”© Campaign;
  3. Actively supporting policy that protects fresh water sources, especially in the Great Lakes Basin;
  4. Increasing access and use of the lake and river fronts in the Great Lakes Basin.
Business Philosophy:
Providing improved defaults for society will provide the transformed foundation necessary for sustainable water sources. Supporting sustainable water policy, educating the public and encouraging business to shift away from harmful behaviors will change the way humans exist in the world.

Drink Local. Drink Tap.© efforts will affect several groups of community members including: private organizations, suburban and inner city households, spiritual communities, public institutions, government entities, and all other community stakeholders. Collective community engagement is critical to the success of creating and maintaining sustainable water sources for the present and future.

Who makes it all happen?

The active members of the program include:

Erin Huber, Chair and Program Director for Drink Local. Drink Tap.
Program Development, Institute of Applied Phenomenology in Science and Technology
Affinity Consultants, Inc., Business Development
Babette Ostreicher, Beach Clean Up Manager for Drink Local. Drink Tap. and Intern at CWSCD
Kim Miller, Cleveland Bioneers
Laura Blake, Photography and Artisric Manager for Drink Local. Drink Tap.
Robert Stockham, Web Design and Social Media Manager
Michele Kilroy, Northeast Ohio Chapter Director US Green Building Coalition
Scott Sanders, Earthday Coalition, Director
Eileen McCarthy, Oswald Companies, Director of Operations
Emily Baunach, Hard Hatted Women
Toni Perry, Wells Fargo Bank
Jen Greiser, Cleveland Metroparks Urban Watershed Manager
Carol Ward, Ohio State Park System
April Mather, Alliance for the Great Lakes
Cathi Lehn, Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Wanda Dobbins, Marcia Mayes, and Paula Morrison, Cleveland Division of Water
Dan Isaacson
Mark Moore
Andre Husain and Team Hope
Mark Steele, Blue Planet Network
Christine Huber

Other collaborators include: Affinity Consultants, Inc., Cleveland Bioneers, NEO Green Building Coalition, Great Lakes Design Collaborative, City of Cleveland, Earthday Coalition, Green City Blue Lake, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Corporate Sustainability Network, Cleveland Metroparks, Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, Student Environmental Movement and Net Impact at Cleveland State University, Friends of Edgewater, Katie Spotz, Tower City Center, Forest City, and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

The Drink Local. Drink Tap.© group is already making an impact!

Achievements to date:

  1. Sponsorship of 1000 stainless water bottles filled with Cleveland TAP at Earthfest:
    Cleveland Division of Water Pollution Control
  2. Direct outreach to over 1000 people at the Cleveland International Film Festival 2010
  3. Direct outreach to over 500 people at the Burning River Festival 2010
  4. Direct outreach at numerous other events such as: Stark County Going Green Fair August 2010, Conservation Day at the CSWCD August 2010, “Tapped” documentary screening introduced by Representative Dennis Kucinich, energy expo for Sustainable Cleveland 2010 September 24, 2010
  5. Adoption from the IAP June 2010 providing 501c3 status, web presence, and an enhanced foundation
  6. Sponsorship of numerous tables, water filter giveaways, and volunteer shirts from Affinity Consultants, Inc. 2010
  7. Celebrated World Water Day March 22nd with a full day of events and reached local news stations 2010
  8. Built a boat made of recycled materials to raise awareness about plastic pollution at the 2nd Annual Lake Erie Boat Float, Cleveland September 11,2010

Please view our events calendar for ALL IAP and Drink Local. Drink Tap.©