Bottled water draining away from HRM offices
Posted Oct 13, 2010 05:16:48 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Vending machines at HRM’s community centres and recreational facilities will still offer bottled water – but regional council has voted to phase out the beverages, and water coolers, in most administrative facilities and offices.
The Canadian Federation of Students has been trying to get municipal and provincial governments to ban bottled water, and they moved closer to that goal with the motion adopted by council Tuesday night.
Coun. Steve Streatch (Eastern Shore-Musquodoboit Valley) says the reasons for the ban are compelling.
“It speaks volumes, doesn’t it?” he said. “When you look at the consideration for the plastic, for the petrochemicals to make the plastic and all the issues that go along with it. So I hear the message.”
Though it’s not a complete ban, Rebecca Rose with the CFS is pleased, saying there are many reasons to limit the use.
“It’s bad because it’s not checked as often as tap water often is, and the plastics seep into the water so that’s bad for our health,” she said. “It’s also bad because water is supposed to be a public thing that’s available to everyone. You need it to live.”
Coun. Jennifer Watts (Connaught-Quinpool) challenged the mayor to bring in a similar ban at city hall.
“We can have jugs of water at our meetings, we can have those available,” she said. “I would ask that you take this on as a commitment to this motion being put forward by council to really make this work.”
The federation presented council with a 150-name petition in support of the ban that is now in effect.
