CONCORD — It seemed like a good idea to many residents, at least last week, before much of the surrounding area experienced the equivalent of an aquatic apocalypse.

Less than 48 hours before a ruptured water main cut the supply of potable water to about 2 million people in the Boston area, local residents voted to ban all sales of bottled water, an unprecedented measure in the country meant to spur other municipalities to reduce the rising amount of plastic clogging the nation’s streets and landfills. story continues..