Legislative Action
Governments play a critical role in managing water resources within their jurisdictions. Their actions either affirm or deny peoples’ fundamental rights to water. They create the regulations that control how water is used, processed, delivered, bought, and sold.
Governments around the world are turning their backs on these responsibilities. The peoples’ right to manage and protect water is slowly eroding, and companies who profit off water are making more and more decisions. In North America, bottled water is defined as a ‘product’, freely traded and largely unregulated in comparison with publicly delivered water.
Water activists around the world are fighting for policies and laws that among other objectives put water back in the public’s hands, stop the exports of bulk water, and reign-in the bottled water industry.
Legislative Action
Articles
US: Cook county may stop buying bottled water
Posted: October 22, 2007 CBS2chicago.com.Comm. Quigley: Water Is Free, But County Spends $400K A Year On Bottles
CHICAGO (CBS) ― A Cook County Board...
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US: CA bottled water labels must list source
Posted: October 16, 2007 WaterTech Online. By Susan V. Wheeler -SACRAMENTO, CA — California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law on October 13 a bill that...
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US: Austin leaders urged to toss bottled water
Posted: October 12, 2007 Star-Telegram. By John Moritz -An organization preaching corporate accountability and environmental friendliness wants Texas' capital city...
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US: Uncapped resources
Posted: October 9, 2007 Detroit Free Press. By Katherine Yung -Ann Arbor leads campaign away from bottled water
This summer, Ann Arbor's City Council took a...
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US: Policy has city turn to tap
Posted: October 4, 2007 Burbank Leader. By Jeremy Oberstein -City workers asked to wean themselves from bottled water for environmental and cost...
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Australia: Council calls on residents to ditch bottled water
Posted: October 3, 2007 The Sydney Morning Herald. By Sunanda Creagh -YOU can lead a resident to tap water, but you can't make them drink. That won't stop Manly...
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US: Water District Bans Bottled Water Purchases
Posted: October 3, 2007 Morgan Hill Times.Morgan Hill - Thirsty workers at the county's water district must bring their own bottled water or drink tap water after...
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[California] Source of water would be clear under new law
Posted: September 27, 2007 Marc Lifsher, September 27, 2007, Los Angeles Times - Is the bottled water you drink any better than what comes out of the tap? Is it from the...Read More
US: City considering cutting out bottled water
Posted: August 29, 2007 C-Ville Weekly. By Scott Weaver -Mayor wants city to stop buying bottled water; Council skeptical
Even Mayor David Brown admits that...
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US: Back to the bubbler
Posted: August 21, 2007 The Boston Globe. Globe Editorial -BOTTLED WATER faces a growing backlash. An elite lifestyle statement that quickly became habit for...
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US: Go back to tap water, says state assemblyman
Posted: August 10, 2007 Newsday.com. By Jennifer Smith -Back in the days when the Walkman was king, drinking water came from a fountain or a tap instead of a...
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US: "Today" show tasters say Salt Lake city water the best
Posted: July 30, 2007 By Keith McCord Reporting -We win! Salt Lake City has the best tasting tap water, at least according to a very unscientific taste test on...
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US: A battle between the bottle and the faucet
Posted: July 16, 2007 Bill Marsh, July 15, 2007, The New York Times - Those eight daily glasses of water you're supposed to drink for good health? They will cost you...Read More
[Guelph] Nestlé's water permit renewal a test of new rules, Sandals says
Posted: July 13, 2007 Rob O'Flanagan, July 12, 2007, Guelph Mercury - Nestlé Waters Canada's water-taking permit renewal process is likely being delayed both by a crush...Read More
US: Who can tap state's liquid gold?
Posted: July 4, 2007 Laura Berman Legislators work to give Michigan more control over who bottles its abundant fresh water. Like oil-rich sheiks, Michigan's...Read More
US: Legislation would tighten for-profit water rules
Posted: July 4, 2007 The Grand Rapids Press. Ken Kolker - GRAND RAPIDS -- When a semi-load of Ice Mountain bottled water plummeted 50 feet from a highway overpass in...Read More
US: Despite pressure from beverage companies, U.S. mayors pass resolution calling for support of municipal water
Posted: June 25, 2007 Los Angeles — At today’s meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, mayors from across the country rejected efforts by the American Beverage...Read More
US: Maine bill sets new rules for commercial water extractions
Posted: June 25, 2007 The Associated Press. Glenn Adams - AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - With little public notice, the Legislature has enacted a bill to increase scrutiny and...Read More
US: Mayor to cut off flow of city money for bottled water
Posted: June 25, 2007 San Francisco Chronicle. Cecilia M. Vega - San Francisco city government will no longer be allowed to use city money to buy bottled water for its...Read More
Canada: Province isn't doing enough to protect water: NDP leader
Posted: June 21, 2007 Guelph Mercury. Rob O'Flanagan - Water is a finite resource that must be carefully conserved, says provincial NDP Leader Howard Hampton, who...Read More
US: Idea for bottled water excise tax has backers, critics, uphill battle
Posted: June 18, 2007 Muskegon Chronicle. Jeff Alexander - A state senator's proposal to impose a 20-cents-per-gallon tax on bottled water is sparking debate among...Read More
US: Don't drink bottled water in Ann Arbor
Posted: June 13, 2007 Water Technology Online. Jon Zemke - Ann Arbor city officials are making a case for local residents to drink their tap water and stay away from...Read More
US: City pays big for bottled water
Posted: June 4, 2007 Chronicle Staff Writer By Cecilia M. Vega - S.F. spends millions despite renowned taste of Hetch Hetchy San Francisco, owner of a...Read More
US: Rocky targets waste of bottled water
Posted: June 4, 2007 Deseret Morning News. By Doug Smeath - Rocky Anderson is taking his fight for a more eco-friendly Salt Lake City to a new enemy: bottled...Read More
Canada: Charlottetown mayor orders halt to bottled water
Posted: June 4, 2007 The Guardian. By Kate Smith - Soon after the province announced a lifting of the can ban, the City of Charlottetown is enacting a ban of its...Read More
Stay Connected
BC Municipal Bottled Water Campaign
On May 28th, a joint package of materials was distributed to every municipality in British Columbia. Click here to read the letter sent to municipalities. Click here to see Municipal examples. Click here to read the press release. - Read more
Take the Bottle Water Free Orientation Challenge!
Now is the time to promote a bottled water free orientation/event to your Student Union and PIRG for Fall 2009. Here are two ways you can help: 1) Send Elly the contact info of your campus orientation organizers; 2) Call or meet with your orientation leaders to discuss bottled water free events. If you think you can do either of these tasks, please email Elly Adeland, Water and Energy Campaigner at: Elly@polarisinstitute.org
We will get the ball rolling together!
- Read more
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Action on Bottled Water
March 7, 2009 - The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) adopted a policy to encourage their members to "phase out the sale and purchase of bottled water" on city/town property. Click here to access: FCM Resolution, Polaris Institute FCM Briefing Memo, Polaris Institute Press Release, FCM Press Release - Read more
Ontario Municipal Bottled Water Campaign
On February 20th, a joint package of materials was distributed to all 444 municipalities in Ontario. Click here to read the letter sent to Municipalities. Click here to read the Municipal Examples and click here to read the Municipal Options sent to municipalities. - Read more
Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Confronts Bottled Water
Click here to read AMO's memo to all its members on bottled water. - Read more
Nova Scotia Campaign to Turn on the Tap and Ditch Bottled Water
On December 12th, a provincial campaign on bottled water was launched in Nova Scotia. Click here to read the press release. Click here for Municipal Examples and click here for Municipal Options on bottled water. - Read more
JOIN THE BOTTLED WATER FREE ZONES CAMPAIGN
Create a bottled water free zone in your classroom, student union, workplace, union local, community centre, City Hall buildings, environmental social justice or faith based group, and more! click here to find out how you can participate in the campaign - Read more
CFS Bottled Water Policy Canadian Federation of Students policy on Bottled Water passed at the May 2008 General Meeting. Click here
FOI Request Template: Accessing Your University's Beverage Exclusivity Contract Click here
Cliquer ici
Alternatives to Bottled Water on Campus Organizing bottled water-free events on campus, such as Orientation Week.
Bottled Water FAQ Take the plunge! Frequently asked questions about policies for phasing out bottled water and re-investing in tap water.
Click here
Cliquer ici
Bottled Water Facts Fact sheets on the environmental, health, social and economic impacts of
the bottled water industry.
L'empreinte ecologique de l'eau embouteillee
Sante
Repercussions sociales
Repercussions economiques
L'empreinte ecologique de l'eau embouteillee
Sante
Repercussions sociales
Repercussions economiques
Municipal Action: Bottled Water Options and Examples Take the Plunge: Materials for Municipal Action on Bottled Water!
For Municipal Options click here
.For Municipal Examples click here
Community Organizing Package This package outlines some useful ideas and tools for building a campaign challenging the bottled water industry in Canada. Click here
San Francisco Executive Directive Use this example in a campaign to encourage your local government to ban bottled water. Click here for a copy
Student awareness to action kit PART 1
A tool kit to challenge the bottled water industry and beverage exclusivtity contracts at school and on campus
Find part 1 of the kit here
A tool kit to challenge the bottled water industry and beverage exclusivtity contracts at school and on campus
Find part 1 of the kit here
Utility Calculator for Vending Machines Calculate the energy consumption of your institution's vending machines
Find calculators here
Find calculators here