Starbucks installing water-saving faucets

New York City Starbucks Corp. is installing new water faucets that will allow the company to save about 150 gallons of water a day -- roughly two bathtubs' worth -- at each of its stores, the Associated Press reported.

The company said it will no longer run water continuously out of its taps to wash spoons and will instead install new faucets that meter out water. Starbucks’ baristas press the faucet once and high-pressure water sprays out long enough to rinse a spoon.

The faucets are now being installed in all U.S. stores and will be delivered to select international locations in the fall. About 600 stores, mainly in California, now have the new faucets.

Stores that do not receive the new metered faucets will use a "single spoon, single pitcher" procedure, which involves using a spoon once and setting it aside to be cleaned and sanitized when dishes are washed.

"These standards balance Starbucks' need to reduce our environmental footprint and to meet the most stringent health safety standards for customer safety, with minimal cost and operational impact," the company said in documents obtained by the Associated Press,

The change in policy comes after the company was criticized by environmental groups for wasting water by keeping the tap turned on all day.