Legislative Action

Water bottles outlawed at town offices: York region.com News

Posted: May 15, 2009

Whitchurch-Stouffville
May 14, 2009 10:29 AM

BY SANDRA BOLAN

Bottled water will no longer be available at the Whitchurch-Stouffville municipal office.
However, bottled water will still be available for purchase at other town facilities where drinkable tap water is not available.

Whitchurch-Stouffville is the third York Region municipality to ban bottled water in its town hall. Vaughan and Newmarket are the others.

"York Region municipalities want to lead by example," said Rob Raycroft, manager of facilities and parks for Whitchurch-Stouffville. "Obviously in the town office we want to lead by example."

While town staff will have to turn on the tap to quench their thirst, arena patrons and athletes, as well as visitors to area parks with concession stands will still be able to purchase bottled water.

"If you can still purchase something like pop in the same type of bottle, then why not offer something healthier like water," Mr. Raycroft said.

The decision to no longer purchase bottled water for the municipal office, was made following resolutions made by the Associations of Municipalities of Ontario and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, which encourages and promotes the consumption of municipal tap water, where available.

"The town's water supply is protected through a stringent process, which includes continuous monitoring and compliance with Ministry of Environment regulations," according to Mr. Raycroft. "The legislation, with respect to bottled water, doesn't have as much restriction."

According to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, it takes approximately three litres of water to manufacture a one-litre plastic bottle of water and between 40 to 80 per cent of empty bottles end up as trash or are placed in the garbage, thus in the landfill where they are left to decompose, which takes years.

"Bottles have become a convenience item," Mr. Raycroft said. "Unfortunately, times have changed and people are very concerned with pandemics and water supplies."