Interviews and photographs by Michael Mishler, contributor
Joshua Sauceda, 15, Ann Arbor, WTMC
“I think they should just sell BPA-free water bottles instead. I think crappy water bottles should be banned, yeah, because they’re bad for your health. Although I do love that Voss and Fiji though.”
Massimiliano Arturo Nardelli, 17, Northville, WTMC
“I think it’s kinda stupid to ban bottled water. It’s a good way to get accessible water. About the health risk, it’s a health risk to step out of your house. There’s going to be health risks everywhere you go. It seems stupid to just be running away from all these things.”
Justine Weber, 19, General Studies in Math and Science/APOST, Hamburg
“I think it’d be a good idea, maybe. But if they were to do that, they should add more of those water filter thingies on the drinking fountains.”
Jacob Cantrell, 20, Ypsilanti, business administration transfer
“It’s a big point of contention. First off, I think water should be free. But I’m okay with it. The types of plastics they use in those bottles are not environmentally friendly, BPAs are really bad.”
Sequilia Stevens, 24, Detroit, liberal arts
“I think they should figure what bottled waters have fluoride and lead and stuff in them and ban those. There’s a lot of misleading companies that are selling just tap water. I also try to stay away from BPA-type bottles. I think Washtenaw should just try to stand against chemicals. Nowadays, water bottles are just tap water and it’s not good for you. They should find water that’s healthier.”
Cory Johnson, 19, Manchester, radiography
“I don’t think so. I think they’re pretty transportable. I think even if they’re banned, people are still going to bring them and use them because people look at it as just a water bottle.”
Matthew Klienheng, 21, Livonia, construction management
“It doesn’t make sense to ban it, since you’re going to need something to put your water in anyway. Give people the information to make decisions, not ban something. If you can buy cigarettes and alcohol, you should be able to buy bottled water.”
Tabetha Chaney, 19, Cincinnati, graphic design
“I think that’s a good idea. It just creates extra plastic and we don’t need that much waste. Aquafina is the like the devil.”
Paul Coch, 29, Manchester, 3-D animation
“Honestly, the actual bottles end up everywhere, they’re made of plastic. No matter what plastic it is (BPA or not), you’re still going to end up with tons of bottles. Banning it might be for the best.”
Jake Thomas, 22, Ypsilanti, culinary arts
“I would be against not selling them because I’m diabetic and I need to drink purified water. I can understand it, but I’m against it because I need the purified water.”
Devan Hayes, 21, Ypsilanti, music psychology
“ I feel like there’s a lot of stuff in a lot of places that do something similar to your health. If you’re only gonna do it with bottled water, then what’s the point? I feel like it’d be better to find a resource that won’t mess up the water and changing what you use to contain the water, instead of just banning the water.”
Alec Woods, 21, Pinckney, computer science
“I don’t really think it’s necessary. Some people might just want to buy it. It’s available everywhere. Why don’t we just find an alternative way to sell water? If it’s just some word-of-mouth thing, I don’t care if we switch it (the bottles) out.”
Tyronda Smith, 25, Detroit, biology and psychology
“I guess it’s fine as long as you have other ways that people can get and carry around bottles of water, or even offer BPA-free bottles.”
