WASHINGTON (CBSDC/AP) — The District of Columbia water and sewer authority is asking Congress to serve tap water instead of bottled water at the presidential inauguration.

The authority’s general manager wrote Thursday to New York Sen. Charles Schumer saying tap water is a penny a gallon while bottled water costs 100 times more and is environmentally harmful. Schumer announced this month that New York-based Saratoga Springs Water will supply water for the inauguration.

Bottled water opponents say that in addition to disposable bottles, trucking bottled water also creates pollution.

DC Water General Manager George S. Hawkins says that if bottled water is served, the authority is willing to provide reusable water bottles to member of Congress to show their support for public water systems and the environment.

The utility is also conducting blind taste tests, matching tap water versus bottled water, and seeing if people can tell the difference.

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