In April of this year, South Lake Tahoe banned stores and businesses from selling single-use plastic water bottles that hold less than a gallon of water.
The move aims to get neighbors and visitors to switch to more environmentally friendly options such as reusable water bottles.
So far, close to 100 percent of the businesses in the area are in compliance with the ban.
Members of the group "Keep Tahoe Blue" say that South Lake Tahoe is a great place for the ban, because people have alternatives.
"Refill stations all over Tahoe, so we have over a dozen of them that have gone in, in just the past year or so with many more on the way. Partners are looking for a way to install them, we have a map online at keeptahoeblue.org so you can find where they are if you want to refill them, and since we are in Tahoe, if you are in doubt, just fill it up with the tap, the tap water here is some of the best tasting in the world," said Jesse Patterson, Chief Strategy Officer with Keep Tahoe Blue.
Jesse Patterson says that businesses outside of South Lake Tahoe are starting to pre adopt this ban, even though there is no ordinance.
Some visitors seem to be unaware of the changes, and because of this, one liquor store employee in South Lake Tahoe says that it hasn't been benefitting the business so far.
"I get people that come in all the time, and I show them our water, where you can get water, and they look at me really fun like what do you mean I can't buy a plastic water bottle? And it has definitely affected our sales with water, not to mention the margin for the cans versus the plastic," said Jason Gerken, sales associate for Tahoe Bottle Shop.
Both people we spoke with agree that people must do a better job of cleaning up after themselves, especially with the 4th of July right around the corner.
