As of September 1, 2010 bottled water will not be available for purchase on campus at the University of Ottawa. This would make Ottawa the first university in Ontario to ban the sale of bottled water.
The move is part of a trend amongst Ontario’s postsecondary sector to implement broader sustainable development initiatives by reducing energy consumption costs and promoting such practices as vermicomposting, urban farming, and paper and equipment recycling.
Since 2008, the University of Ottawa has invested over $100,000 to revitalize its water fountains and an additional $75,000 will be invested next year. The improvements include gooseneck fountains for quick and easy filling of re-usable bottles, new fountains near food service outlets, upgrades to existing fountains, wheelchair accessibility, stronger pressure and better refrigeration.
Queen’s University also announced this week that its Principal is championing a bottled water ban. The strategy emphasizes the need for ongoing education to facilitate the transition away from bottled water and stresses the need for more access to water fountains on campus.
"Canada has among the cleanest and best access to municipal tap water in the world, and we should be promoting this access on campus," says Leora Jackson outgoing Queen’s University Rector and member of the Water Access Group on campus who actively campaign for more access to municipal water. “Banning bottled water sales is an important part of that, and it is also an important step in recognizing that the sale of bottled water has negative impacts on financial, social and environmental sustainability." Student groups advocating to stop the sale of bottled water cite implications for waste reduction, financial and environmental costs of transporting bottled water, and the costs associated with manufacturing plastic bottles. For more info: See Ontario universities' commmitment for a greener world
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