Waterloo Region ditches the bottle: The bottled water industry suffers another defeat

Polaris Institute Press Release, September 18, 2008, Ottawa - Even after sending representatives to the Region of Waterloo’s Council meeting last night and to last week’s Planning and Works Committee meeting, representatives from the bottled water industry went home with another black eye.

The Region of Waterloo (Waterloo, Cambridge and Kitchener) last night voted unanimously to eliminate the purchase and sale of bottled water in City buildings and beyond. Included in the resolution is a stated commitment to extend access to municipal tap water through drinking fountains and refilling stations.

Yesterday’s decision is the second major defeat for the bottled water industry in Ontario this week and the third in the past month. Yesterday the Upper Grand District School Board in Guelph, Ontario unanimously voted to develop a strategy to eliminate the sale of bottled water from cafeterias and vending machines in all facilities by December 2009. Add to this last month’s decision by the City of London to eliminate the sale and purchase of bottled water, and a growing a number of Canadian cities including Niagara Falls, Hamilton and Vancouver considering similar policies, a strong backlash by Canadian municipalities against bottled water has emerged.

Despite strong lobbying efforts by the bottled water industry – represented by Nestlé Waters Canada, Refreshments Canada and the Canadian Bottled Water Association – to influence Canadian city councilors and school board trustees, the tide is turning against bottled water in Canada.

Polaris Institute Director, Tony Clarke said “environmentally responsible city councils are repeatedly rejecting the advances of the bottled water industry.” Clarke continued saying that “these municipalities are taking brave steps by refocusing attention on publicly delivered water services.”

“The bottled water industry is clearly taking a hit from the growing bottled water backlash,” said Polaris Institute water campaigner Zoe Maggio.

Bottled water companies themselves are indicating a drop in sales due to environmental concerns. Nestlé Waters posted a 1.1% drop in bottled water sales during the first 6 months of 2008, attributing this to environmental concerns and a slow economy. The Financial Times noted that US supermarket sales for PepsiCo's Aquafina brand have dropped 12.7% so far in 2008, and PepsiCo chief executive herself acknowledged this summer that bottled water sales are dropping as people switched to tap water.

The Polaris Institute (www.polarisinstitute.org) works with citizen movements to develop new tools and strategies for action on public policy issues like water.

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