Community & Labour Action

Canada: City ponders greener sources of drinking water

Edmonton Journal. By Susan Ruttan -

EDMONTON - Water, water, everywhere, but which one should you drink?

City councillors will ponder that question on Monday when they consider whether to abandon the water cooler and bottled water they and their staff currently enjoy, in favour of more environmentally-sensitive options.

A report going to the council services committee says that most staff in the councillors' offices are willing to give up the cooler and bottled water if they had a fridge with an ice and cold-water dispenser.

About half the staff surveyed said they'd even settle for pitchers of cold water available on a regular basis.

A report done a city councillors' request points out that "Edmonton's potable water is recognized as some of the best and safest in Canada, North America and the world."

Bottled water, by contrast, requires plastic bottles, uses fossil fuels for transportation, and adds to waste that must be recycled, says the report.

On top of that, the quality of bottled water is not as closely regulated as drinking water from the tap, it adds.

"A preliminary assessment indicates that using tap water is by far the most environmentally responsible alternative over any bottled water alternative," says the report.

It says if councillors don't want to settle for pitchers of cold water in the office fridge, they could buy a new fridge with a cold-water dispenser for about $1,200.

If councillors opt for a new fridge, the cost will come from their councilllors' furniture budget.

sruttan@thejournal.canwest.com

© Edmonton Journal 2008