Student Action

U of W bans sale of bottled water

MONTREAL (CUP)—Last week, the University of Winnipeg became the first university in Canada to ban the sale of bottled water on its campus, and campuses in Montreal are taking steps to do the same.

The ban came after almost 75 per cent of students voted in favour during a recent referendum held by the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association.

However, the ban is not yet being implemented, as the University has an insufficient number of water fountains on campus to serve all of its students.

Once implemented, it will include all containers from portable water bottles to the bigger gallon water containers.
Vinay Iyer, U of W Students’ Association president, said that realistically speaking, water bottles should be out of sight by January 2010.

Though he considers the ban a success, some students have expressed disagreement with the new rule.
“They have a right to be angry, because they are just not informed,” Iyer said. Iyer explained that tap water is safer than bottled water because it does not boast the toxic elements found in the plastic used for water bottles.

While the U of W works on the logistics of implementing their ban, Tap Thirst, a Montreal-based advocacy group that lobbies against selling and consuming bottled water, is working with McGill and Concordia in hopes of eliminating bottled water on campuses at both universities. According to a recent audit of the University’s waste, Concordia University alone sees 1.2 million bottles of water go to waste on campus.

Getting the attention of the administration at Concordia hasn’t been the problem, said Laura Beach, Tap Thirst’s co-founder. The problem is their reluctance to follow through on the issue. Another obstacle that anti-water-bottle advocates have to overcome, she explained, is how companies create and incorrect perception that bottled water is safer.

While city water is tested daily, bottling companies don’t test their water as often. Louise Hénault-Éthier, environmental co-coordinator with Sustainable Concordia, believes that water bottles are unnecessary.

“The quality of tap water in Montreal is really high,” she said. “Bringing your own refillable container will allow you to have fresh, clean water available to you whenever you like by simply refilling it at the water fountain.”
The Students’ Society of McGill University has already taken a step in banning bottle sales in its building.

“McGill is committed to sustainable operation,” said Dennis Fortune, McGill’s Sustainability Director. “We believe we should be encouraging tap water.” Hénault-Éthier also points to the high price of bottled water. Water is a free resource, she said. “We shouldn’t need to purchase it.”