Toronto’s recent decision to ban the sale and distribution of bottled water on city premises was a watershed moment for water justice advocates the world over.
Toronto’s action was not that it banned an environmentally harmful product, but that it included a commitment to ensuring access to tap water in all city facilities.
In the past year Canadians have made a commitment to public water services.
Across the country municipalities, schools and universities, faith-based organizations, restaurants and unions have stood up for Canada’s water services by restricting the provision and sale of bottled water.
Increasingly across the country, municipal leaders are showing that there is a strong political will for reinvestments in public water services. To date 17 municipalities from five provinces have banned the bottle and gone “Back to the Tap”.
In Canada, municipal water systems are among the safest and strongest in the world.
Meanwhile bottled water costs more, is less regulated, consumes more energy and releases more harmful toxics.
However, access to municipal drinking water is dwindling with new buildings constructed without water fountains and older ones decommissioning existing fountains.
Now is the time to issue strong calls to all levels of government for greater public access to free potable water and a wholesale reinvestment in water infrastructure and services
It’s becoming clear that the recent love affair with bottled water has reached its limits.
Bottled water’s 15 minutes are up, the marketing scam is out of the closet and the tap is back. The simple fact is that there is no “green” solution to bottled water. While it might serve a function during natural disasters or other contingencies, it is no alternative to the tap.
Municipalities in Canada are making the right choice to support public water infrastructure and to increase city residents’ access to clean, convenient and environmentally sound drinking water.
The only question now is whether Ottawa will be next.
Joe Cressy
Campaign Co-ordinator
Polaris Institute, Ottawa