A ban on bottled water?

Thinking about getting a bottle of water the next time you take the kids for a swim at West Park or go skating at the Merritton Arena? You may have to think again.

Mayor Brian McMullan is proposing a ban on the sale of bottled water in municipal facilities. In an effort to encourage St. Catharines' citizens to choose tap water over bottled, McMullan believes the city should lead by example. The first steps were taken last fall when bottled water was banned from city council meetings. It's this same city council that will now need to table the discussion on municipal facilities.

While moving away from bottled water is a great choice for the environment (tap water requires neither the absurd amount of plastic nor the damage to the environment that land shipping causes), McMullan feels his strongest argument is the savings this should pass on to the taxpayers. St. Catharines residents pay roughly 5 cents a litre for tap water -- a significant price difference from the $1.00-$2.00 range that most stores would charge for 1 litre of bottled water.

The ban still needs to go through city council before it can take effect, and if they find a valid reason they may very well put a stop to it. Give your the city councilor for your ward a call and let them know how you feel about this -- let your voices be heard, St. Catharines!

TAGS: Ban, Bottled Water, Brian Mcmullan, Green Living, Mayor, Stcatharines, Water