06-30-2012, 06:10 AM
@robguz re "a store's decision" to sell tap water on EBT:
The USDA determines what things are eligible for EBT purchase, not store owners. And although the basic idea is so that families, and especially children, will not starve, the USDA does allow candy, high sugar content soft drinks and bottled water to be purchased with EBT. You can buy those items in every single market on the island with your EBT card. Alcoholic beverages are not eligible. Chewing gum, which has no nutritional value and isn't even swallowed, is allowed. Go figgah!
Here in Puna a lot of people are on catchment, and their catchment water is not always potable. Catchment water can be contaminated with all sorts of nasties. So they need to buy potable water, even if it's tap water, because our tap water from the Water Dept. is potable. They can buy bottles in-store with their EBT card. The water machines outside Pahoa Naturals and Malama Market, where you bring your own container, are coin operated - no EBT. There is a demand in Puna for potable water and every single grocery I know of provides this option. The alternative, of giving children non-potable water with all the pathogens in it, is not acceptable.
The USDA determines what things are eligible for EBT purchase, not store owners. And although the basic idea is so that families, and especially children, will not starve, the USDA does allow candy, high sugar content soft drinks and bottled water to be purchased with EBT. You can buy those items in every single market on the island with your EBT card. Alcoholic beverages are not eligible. Chewing gum, which has no nutritional value and isn't even swallowed, is allowed. Go figgah!
Here in Puna a lot of people are on catchment, and their catchment water is not always potable. Catchment water can be contaminated with all sorts of nasties. So they need to buy potable water, even if it's tap water, because our tap water from the Water Dept. is potable. They can buy bottles in-store with their EBT card. The water machines outside Pahoa Naturals and Malama Market, where you bring your own container, are coin operated - no EBT. There is a demand in Puna for potable water and every single grocery I know of provides this option. The alternative, of giving children non-potable water with all the pathogens in it, is not acceptable.