Planning a trip to South Lake Tahoe? You might need to start packing a reusable water bottle.

The South Lake Tahoe City Council on Tuesday took steps toward establishing a municipal and commercial ban on single-use plastic water bottles in the city. 

A proposed ordinance would prohibit the use of single-use water bottles smaller than one gallon at city facilities, permitted activities and special events. The sale of single-use plastic water bottles of the same size would also be outlawed. 

If approved, the local law would go into effect in April 2024.

In the case of an emergency or natural disaster, the South Lake Tahoe City manager could waive the ordinance. There has not been a citywide water outage in South Lake Tahoe in the past 30 years, according to city staff.

A first reading of the ordinance received unanimous support from the council. A final reading will go before the council Oct. 4

The proposed ordinance drew nearly two hours of public comment and debate among council members.

Advocates of the ordinance touted Tahoe’s exceptional drinking water and the need to keep the lake’s environment clean.

“Our volunteers are getting tired,” said Kelci Brown, community engagement coordinator at Keep Tahoe Blue. “They are asking for solutions, and this is an amazing step in that direction.”

Opponents said it will add a burden to area businesses and frustrate visitors to the Tahoe Basin.

The South Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce is one of those opponents, according to chamber CEO Duane Wallace.

“It’s gonna take out of local merchants’ pockets and give it to someone else’s pocket,” he said.

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The University of California Davis’ Tahoe Environmental Research Center has been leading a study of the effects of microplastics in Lake Tahoe.

In a 2020 study, TERC found microplastics in almost every sample taken from beaches around the lake.

Because no wastewater is discharged into Tahoe, the microplastics are estimated to come from litter, especially plastic bags and bottles.

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Plastic is damaging to water quality because it doesn’t break down or decompose. It just breaks apart into microplastics, pieces of plastic approximately the size of a sesame seed or smaller, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Tuesday’s ordinance is not the first step the South Lake Tahoe City Council has taken to reduce plastic in the city.

In 2013, South Lake Tahoe became one of the first cities in California to ban single-use plastic bags at grocery stores.

In 2018, the city passed an ordinance prohibiting food providers from providing plastic utensils, straws or stirrers except upon request, and from providing polystyrene (foam) containers. The ordinance also prohibits vendors from selling polystyrene products, including coolers, cups, bowls, plates and packing peanuts, and prohibits its use at city facilities and events.

In 2021, the city repealed its 2013 bag ban when California passed a state law prohibiting stores from issuing single-use plastic bags; instead, stores can provide reusable plastic or recycle paper bags at a cost to the customer.

The city is looking at installing water bottle-refilling stations at city parks and acquiring portable water refilling stations for use at municipal events.

Amy Alonzo covers the outdoors, recreation and environment for Nevada and Lake Tahoe. Reach her at aalonzo@gannett.com. Here's how you can support ongoing coverage and local journalism.