DS-13-74 Canadian Beverage Association Association canadienne des boissons

City of Oshawa Members of the Development Services Committee City Hall 50 Centre Street South Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7

Dear Members of the Development Services Committee;

I have become aware of a delegation from the Blue Communities Project which appeared before the 1 City Council last month (February 4 h, 2013). Unfortunately, over the course of the last few years bottled water has been subject to a concerted and prolonged campaign by a number of organizations posing as citizens and environmental groups. This campaign leverages incorrect, flawed and often US based information to malign a legal, safe and healthy product.

In response to this delegation, the Canadian Beverage Association (CBA) would like to use this opportunity to highlight key facts and figures about bottled water and the bottled water industry in Canada.

Bottled water is produced in environmentally smart and efficient ways; • According to Environment Canada, our entire industry uses just 2/lOOth of1% ofall annual water withdrawals in Canada • The per capita annual consumption of bottled water in Canada equals one 3-minute shower using a standard shower head. 1 2 3 • It takes: , • 1.3 litres to produce 1litre of spring water (this includes the water in the bottle) • 35 lit res of water to produce a cup of tea • 75 litres of water to produce a glass of beer • 120 lit res of water to produce a glass of wine • 140 litres of water to produce a cup of coffee • Our members continue to invest in new science and technology to improve water quality, production efficiencies and water conservation practices.

Bottled water does not compete with tap water; • Research shows that bottled water does not compete against tap water rather it competes with other bottled beverages. For many, bottled water provides portability and convenience. • We support a consumer's right to choose the beverage that meets their needs and preferences, whether that is tap or bottled water or a combination of both. • Furthermore, water is the primary ingredient for many ofthe other beverages produced by our members. Therefore strong municipal water systems are as important to the Canadian beverage industry as they are to all citizens.

1 Environment Canada http://www.ec.gc.ca/eau-water/default.asp?lang=En&n=F25C70EC-1 2Agriculture & Agri-food Canada. "The Canadian Bottled Water Industry." 25 Mar. 2009. < http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display- affich er.do?id=1171644581795&1ang=eng>. 3 http://www.ifad.org/english/water/key .htm

20 362 .)229

83 City of Oshawa Mayor and Council March 13th, 2012 Canadian Beverage Association Page 2 of 2

Plastic water bottles are 100% recyclable and are recycled at high rates across the country; • Total PET non-alcoholic beverage containers account for less than 0.5% of all waste produced in Canada. • Contrary to popular myths and misconceptions, PET water bottles can be repeatedly recycled and re-used to produce new PET bottles in a very energy efficient manner. • On average, it takes 70% less energy to produce a PET water bottle from recycled PET plastic than raw material.4 • Recycled PET is one of the most valuable materials found in the recycling stream. When sold as a commodity, recycled PET generates significant revenue which helps to offset a portion of municipal recycling costs. • Recycled PET can also be used to produce a variety of consumer products such as textiles and clothing. • Industry and government data indicates that over 60% of PET water bottles are recycled in the province of Ontario, with rates as high as 70-80% in single family dwellings.

We believe that bottled water is a convenient, sustainable and healthy hydration choice for Canadians. The debate on bottled water should not be a question of either municipal tap water or bottled water. We think there is a place for both.

It is my understanding that the Environmental Advisory Committee will make a recommendation to the Development Services Committee on the Blue Communities Resolution. To help further inform members of the Development Services Committee I have attached staff reports from both Port Col borne, Ontario and as well as Port Alberni, British Columbia to highlight what actions the majority of Canadian communities have taken in regards to the Blue Communities resolution. Both of these communities' found that there are numerous disadvantages and negative outcomes to banning bottled water and as a result did not ban the product.

The Canadian Beverage Association is the national trade association representing the broad spectrum of brands and companies that manufacture and distribute the majority of non-alcoholic liquid refreshment beverages consumed in Canada.

If we can help answer any questions or provide further information, please do not hesitate to contact us or visit our website at www.canadianbeverage.ca

Jim Goetz President Canadian Beverage Association [email protected]

Cc. Melissa Pringle, Committee Coordinator

Encl. CBA Bottled Water Brochure City of Port Alberni Staff Report on Bottled Water (August 25th, 2012) City of Port Colborne Staff Report on Bottled Water (July 19th, 2011)

4 W'l!W.J.napcor.corn/pdf/Fin.afReport LC! Postconsumer Pf:TandHDPf:".pdf

84 85 The human body is approximately Your fluid requirements depend on 60% water and water is an essential your age, activity level and you body's nutrient that the body cannot pro­ needs. All types of fluids count toward duce.1 Canadians have access to an getting your daily requirements in­ abundance of hydration choices in­ cluding water obtained from food. cluding tap water; plain, flavoured or The Dietitians of Canada recommend sparkling bottled water; juices; fruit the following:2 drinks; tea; coffee; milk; soft drinks

and many more. For many Canadi­ Age Fluid in litres (or cups)* ans, bottled water is a hydration Child 1-8 years 1.3- 1.7 L (6 c) option especially when on the go Boys, 9-18 years 2.4- 3.3 L (10-13 c) because its convenience and porta­ Girls, 9-18 years 2.1- 2.3 L (8-9 c) bility facilitates consumption. Adult males 3.7 L (15 c) Adult females 2.7 L (11 c) During pregnancy 3 L (12 c) While breast feeding 3.8 L (15 c)

Spring Water- the most common type of bottled water. It must come The Canadian Beverage Association from an underground drinkable source, usually an aquifer, and cannot be and its members are proud to treated in anyway. provide Canadians with a wide variety ofbeverages including Mineral water- similar to spring water, as it comes from an underground bottled waters, juices, iced teas, source but contains a high amount of naturally occurring dissolved mineral sport drinks and soft drinks. salts. Mineral water may or may not be carbonated.

We believe that choice, variety and De-mineralized or re-mineralized water- comes from any source that has balance in everything we eat and been treated to make the water drinkable and to remove minerals and oth­ drink are the cornerstones ofa er impurities. During the bottling process, advanced multi-stage reverse balanced diet. osmosis filtration systems are often used to remove any additional impuri­ ties.

In Canada, approximately 94% of the bottled water sold is spring water with the balance being mineral or de-mineralized.

Our members' products are tested at the beginning and end of each production run as well as hourly When considering bottled water as a beverage choice, it is important to during production to ensure the understand the facts about bottled water in Canada -the usage, produc­ product exceeds all requirements. tion, packaging, quality, testing and regulations.

Like all foods and beverages sold in Canada, bottled water safety and quality is regulated by Health Canada under the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations. Production facilities are subject to inspection by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency both apply the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality in their monitoring of bottled water.

In addition, our members' production facilities have stringent inter­ nal quality measures to ensure their products meet consumer expec­ tations in terms of quality, safety and taste.

1 http://www.dietitia ns.ca/Your -He a lth/Nutntion-A-Zf\Nater .aspx?category!O=S8 2. http:/fwww. dietitians.ca/Nutrition -Resources-A-Z/Fact -Sheet -Pages{HTM L}/M iscellaneous/Why-is-water-so-important-for-my-body---Know-when-.aspx

86 The Canadian bottled water industry By comparison, one of Canada's works to manage water resources in largest municipalities annually loses a responsible way. According to 54 billion litres of fresh water or Environment Canada, our entire 14% of its total annual supply be­ industry uses just 2/100th of 1% of cause of leaky infrastructure. This all annual water withdrawals in water loss represents 30 times the Canada. This amounts to approxi­ amount of bottled water consumed mately 50 litres per person per year annually by all Canadians. Environ­ or 1.6 billion litres annually.6 ment Canada estimates nationally that up to 30% of the total water To put that in context, the average entering municipal supply-lines sys­ Canadian consumer uses over tems is lost to leaking pipes.6 125,000 litres of water per year, meaning that per capita bottled wa­ Our members are continually in­ ter consumption represents 0.04% vesting in new science and technolo­ of a person's yearly water use. 6 gy to improve water quality, produc­ tion efficiencies and water conserva­ tion practices.

Fact Per capita annual consumption of bottled water equals one 3-minute shower using a standard shower head.6

Our single serve bottles for water are made of a plastic called Polyethylene Terephthalate or PET. PET is used to make a variety of other products in­ cluding fibre for carpeting and upholstery, and polyester for clothing.

PET is 100% recyclable. PET bottles are one of the most recycled forms of consumer packaging in Canada and, when compared to other beverage packaging choices, has the lowest environmental footprint. When recycled, a PET bottle preserves 86% of the energy used to create it. 7

In Canada, PET beverage bottles are recycled at very high rates in programs that are run and funded by the beverage sector. The average recycling rate is over 70%, with some jurisdictions such as Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan having rates of approximately 80%. 8 Through new innova­ tions, the beverage sector is working to improve its already successful environmental track record.

According to Plastics Re<;:ycling Update, the EU rate for recycling PET is approximately 48% while in Canada the rate for PET is approximately 70% and higher for beverage containers.

3. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. (2004 ). Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, 4. Agriculture & Agri-food Canada. "The Canadian Bottled Water Industry." 25 Mar. 2009. < http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display­ 5. http://www.ifad.org/english/water/key.htm 6. Environment Canada http://www.ec.gc.ca/eau-water/default.asp?Jang=En&n::F25C70EC-1 7. All energy data based and percentages represent life-cycle energy savings of produdng materials using recycled inputs compared with {2002} 8. http://www.sarcsarcan.ca/sarcan/environmental_impact.php, http://www.return-it.ca/ar2010/index.html, http://www.abcrc.com/ar 9. Nestle eco-bottle 9.16 grams

87 n

Plastic water bottles just end up in landfills.

Bottled water bottles are 100% recyclable and are recycled at high rates across the country. Total PET non-alcoholic beverage containers account for less than 0.5% of all waste produced in Canada. The beverage industry's containers are the most recycled consumer product packaging in Canada. Further­ more, recycling programs and infrastructure are supported by the industry and its products in every jurisdiction in Canada.

In Canada, PET beverage bottles are recycled at very high rates in programs that are run and funded by the beverage sector. The average recycling rate is over 70%, with some jurisdictions such as Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan having rates of approximately 80%. Through new innovations, the beverage sector is working to improve its already successful environmental track record.

> Single use PET plastic water bottles contain BPA or other chemicals that leach into the product.

The single use plastic containers that are used by the beverage industry, including those used for bottled water, are made from PET plastic. There is no bisphenoi-A in PET plastic water bottles because no bisphenoi-A is used to manufacture PET plastic. All food and beverage grade packaging used in Canada must be approved by Health Canada, including PET plastic. Health Canada has reviewed the use of PET plastic and determined that it is safe to use.

Bottled water competes with municipal water systems.

F', Bottled water does not compete with tap water. Bottled water competes with other bottled beverages. According to Probe Research, 70% of Canadians drink tap water at home and bottled water away from home.

Tap water serves a variety of purposes in the typical Canadian household including drinking, personal hygiene, clothes and dish washing, cooking, cleaning and irrigation. Bottled water provides portability and convenience. We support a consumer's right to choose the beverage that meets their needs and preferences, whether that is tap or bottled water or a combination of both.

Furthermore, water is the primary ingredient for many of the other beverages produced by the Canadian beverage industry. Therefore strong municipal water systems are as important to the Canadian beverage industry as they are to all citizens.

Municipal water is safer than bottled water.

,, , By law, Health Canada regulations for bottled water must be as strong and protective of public health as provincial regulations for tap water. Bottled water is regulated as a food product by Health Canada through the Food and Drugs Act.

Bottled water is regulated by Health Canada and the beverage industry's facilities are inspected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Members test water for quality and safety before production, each hour during production and at the end of production.

The bottled water produced by the Canadian Beverage Association members meets or exceeds all Canadian requirements.

Canadian Beverage Association

20 Bay St1·eet, 11 00 Toronto. Ontario ~~15J 2N8 4 16-362-2424 'dW'oV .canadian beverage. ca 88 ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS DIVISION PORT COLBORNE

Report Number: 2012-23 Date: July 23, 2012

SUBJECT: PARTICIPATION IN THE BLUE COMMUNITIES PROJECT

1} PURPOSE

This report, prepared by Trevor Rowntree, Environmental Compliance Student, under supervision from Darlene Suddard, Environmental Compliance Supervisor, and authorized by Ron Hanson, Director of Engineering and Operations, has been prepared at the request of Council to provide additional information about participating in the Blue Communities Project and to recommend which, if any, of the proposed resolutions from the Blue Communities Project should be endorsed by Council.

2) HISTORY, BACKGROUND, COUNCIL POLICY, PRACTICES

On June 11, 2012, Robyn Hamlyn made a presentation to Council regarding the Blue Communities Project. Ms. Hamlyn has presented to multiple municipalities and councils across the country and the Province seeking endorsement for the Blue Communities Project which consists of three components of a "water commons" framework. The ~water commons framework", according to the information about the Blue Communities Project provided by Ms. Hamlyn and prepared by the Council of Canadians and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, "treats water as belonging to no one, and the responsibility of all." The Blue Communities Project calls on municipalities to adopt a "water commons framework" by:

1. recognizing water as a fundamental human right, 2. banning the sale of bottled water in municipal facilities and at municipal events, and; 3. promoting publicly financed, owned and operated water and wastewater services

Recognizing water as a human right proposes the idea that every human is entitled to a sufficient supply of safe, clean drinking water and water for sanitation. Currently, the federal government does not recognize water as a human right, but believes that water is an important issue globally and that countries are responsible for ensuring their populations have access to water. In Canada, responsibility for water is shared between the federal, provincial and municipal governments, with municipalities responsible for the provision of water and sanitary services in urban areas. The Blue Communities Project proposes that by municipalities recognizing water as a fundamental human right, it would: • safeguard against a pricing scheme that would limit access to drinking water; • ensure all residents have equal access to adequate supplies of clean, safe water; • provide citizens with information on their water supply and the operation of their water services, and;

33 89 • promote water conservation, treatment, reuse and storm protection to enhance water quality and quantity.

Most municipalities within Canada are currently following these practices and in Ontario, municipalities are required by law to provide information to residents on their water supply and the operation of their water services, and are also required to promote water conservation and participate in source protection initiatives.The Blue Communities Project states that official recognition of these principles at a municipal level would improve the chances of these ideas being adopted by Provincial and Federal governments.

The second part of the Blue Communities' framework requires the municipality to ban the sale of bottled water in municipal facilities and at municipal events. They state this can be achieved with little impact on the public by improving access to tap water in municipal facilities and at municipal events through the installation of water fountains and water filling stations. This requirement is based upon the premise that bottled water represents an "enclosure" or private takeover of water- which is contrary to identifying water as a human right. Additionally, the bottled water ban is proposed to help reduce the environmental impact of bottled water - from the extraction, packaging and distribution of single~use bottled water (creating air quality and climate change impacts and using resources such as oil in the bottle manufacturing process and the fuel used to transport the bottled water.)- to the impact on landfill capacity and street litter (as only approximately 60% of single-use plastic bottles are captured in Blue Box programs).

The third and final goal of the Blue Communities Project is to promote publicly owned and operated water and wastewater services. Public-private partnerships (P3s) are seen as an opportunity to receive funding or revenue for upgrading existing water/wastewater systems and/or build new systems - at little cost to the taxpayer. However, according to the Blue Communities Project, privatization of water and wastewater services within a municipality often leads to an increase in water rates and may cause a decrease in water quality and/or investment as the private sector has higher borrowing costs, transaction fees and is motivated by profit. To ensure the profit margin is maintained, private industry is more likely to raise rates or defer investments and/or decrease service levels. Public-private partnerships can be multi-decade contracts which allow for private management of water and wastewater services and infrastructure. When this form of partnership between a municipality and a private company takes place, the municipality retains the risk - in Ontario, the Mayor and Council are considered the "Owner" of the drinking water system, in particular, and cannot pass that responsibility and/or risk to a private company - therefore, as the Owner of the drinking water system, the Owner is requireq to ensure the operator of the system meets all legal requirements. If the private company fails and rescinds on their obligations, the municipality will bear not only the costs, but also the responsibility. The Blue Communities Project states that keeping these services publicly operated will eliminate the ramifications should a P3 contract fall through.

While there have been municipalities within Canada that have adopted the Blue Communities Project, it has ·not· been without some· resistance. The largest resisting force against the Blue Communities' framework are the bottled water companies. Although opposed to the outright ban of bottled water, these companies have not taken

Report No.: 2012-23 Page2of7 34 90 a stance which is completely against the Blue Communities Project. In fact, water bottlers support recognizing water as a human right and promoting publicly owned and operated water and wastewater services. They feel there is the need for water and wastewater services to continue to receive financial support from all levels of government in an effort to reduce the number of boil-water orders and upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure throughout the country.

On June 26, 2012, two representatives from the Canadian Beverage Association (CBA) and one representative from Nestle Canada met with the Mayor and three members of Staff to present their response to the outright ban of bottled water at municipal facilities and at municipal events promoted by the Blue Communities Project. The main points disputed by these organizations, is the statement that bottled water competes with municipal tap water and that the waste created by single-use plastic bottles is a problem that can be reduced and/or eliminated through a bottled water ban. A document stating the CBA's position is attached to this report.

The CBA and Nestle provided presentations detailing that bottled water is not an alternative to tap water, but rather an alternative to "traditional" bottled beverages, many of which are not considered "healthy" choices - i.e. pop, juice, energy drinks etc, and that many consumers use bottled water as a convenient method of staying hydrated when away from their home. Making tap water more available at municipal facilities or at municipal events through the installation of multiple water fountains may also prove to be ineffective at increasing the availability and use of municipal tap water, as stated in a City of Port Alberni staff report " ... many adults will not use drinking fountains and often discourage their kids from doing the same." Additionally, in a City of Hamilton report, it was stated that banning bottled water may not impact the waste from single-use plastic containers as: "Some consumers may switch to municipal drinking water, while others may purchase a less healthy beverage in a single-use container, which still creates waste and litter. .. "

If a municipality decides to ban bottled water at events, they are running the risk of those who boycott drinking fountains to be swayed towards purchasing other beverages which are also in plastic bottles. In doing so, the healthiest option of a bottled beverage would be removed, resulting in more unhealthy beverages being consumed by the public. While the revenue of other beverages being purchased would increase, the revenue gained by the sale of bottled water would be lost. As was the case in the City of Vancouver, when the Vancouver Parks Board refused to stop the sa!e of bottled water due to the $250,000 that selling bottled water brings in for the city per year.

The CBA and Nestle representatives also indicated that 70% of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) water bottles are recycled across Canada and are one of the most profitable Blue Box materials. Recycled PET is used to make new PET bottles, packaging, fibre (fleece jackets), and other materials. The PET bottles manufactured today weigh 60% less than the bottles from just a few years ago and contain even more recycled components. The beverage industry currently provides approximately 50% of the funding required to operate municipal Blue Box programs.

The City of ~art Colborne is currently operating under a publicly owned and operated water infrastructure, but has not banned the sale of bottled water nor recognized water

Report No.: 2012-23 Page 3 of? 35 91 as a human right. Council will be meeting again on July 23, 2012 to discuss whether or not the City of Port Colborne will endorse the water commons framework to become a Blue Community.

3) STAFF COMMENTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The three main points of the Blue Communities Project are: recognizing water as a human right; banning the sale of bottled water in municipal facilities and at municipal events; as well as maintaining publicly owned water and wastewater services.

Water is essential for life to be sustainable. As such, it is important to recognize that water is a human right. Doing so would entail ensuring all urban residents are able to have equal access to the necessary amount of clean, safe water. Additionally, increased water conservation and source water protection initiatives should be promoted to further improve the water quantity and quality in the Lake Erie basin.

As mentioned prior, the City currently operates publicly owned water and wastewater services. Therefore, this requirement to comply with the Blue Communities Project has already been met. However, it is important that the water services be maintained and updated on a regular basis to ensure the continual availability of safe consumable water. The current Water Infrastructure Needs Study, which Council approved funding for in the 2012 water budget, in addition to the Financial Plan for the drinking water system which Council approved in 2010, shows Council's commitment to investing in the water infrastructure.

The premise behind the Blue Communities Project promoting publicly owned and operated water/wastewater systems is to ensure the quality of these services; however, municipal ownership and control of water systems, while intended to be secure and sufficient is not always guaranteed; Walkerton is the "poster child" where a municipal and publicly owned and operated system failed. The key to ensuring safe drinking water is not ownership but regulation and standards, regular testing, control, audits and accountability. Regardless if systems are municipally operated or privately operated, the assurance of clean, safe, pure drinking water must be considered over profit. Accordingly, any system can be operated by anyone provided the regulations, controls, verifications, testing, audits and accountability standards are legislated, guaranteed and in place.

Banning the sale of bottled water in municipal buildings and at municipal events could prove to be difficult. Many other municipalities have commented that banning water sales in municipal facilities, namely in sporting arenas, adversely promotes the consumption of non-healthy beverages and often results in a decline in vending machine and/or concession sales. The City's new Vale Health and Wellness Centre, for instance, is being constructed to provide the City's residents with a state-of-the-art fitness facility and promote healthy lifestyle choices; should Council decide to ban the sale of bottled water af municipal facilities, the only beverage choices allowed at the new Centre would be mostly unhealthy, sugar-loaded beverages such as pop or juice­ contrary to the spirit and intent of the new Centre.

The most significant impact a ban on the sale of bottled water could have would be on the City's two annual signature events; Flavours of Niagara and Canal Days. These two

Report No.: 2012-23 Page4 of7 36 92 events alone bring substantial crowds to the City in the height of the summer. Visitors to our City need to remain hydrated in these conditions to ensure they enjoy their visit to our City and to the events. Providing access to enough tap water for the tens of thousands of people who attend these events would be quite difficult and potentially costly as it would necessitate the installation and maintenance of multiple water fountains/filling stations in strategic areas of the City and/or the use of bulk water trucks providing unchilled water to people - who may not have brought a refillable container. In short- it would be a logistical nightmare.Aiternatively, it would be prudent for Council to promote the consumption of municipal tap water whenever it can be easily obtained, perhaps through passing a resolution similar to the fair trade city resolution, requiring tap water to be used and provided for all City-run meetings at City facilities (i.e. Council meetings, public meetings hosted by the City or City Staff etc.)

The idea of being a Blue Community has not been discussed with the residents of the City of Port Colborne. However, there have been other municipalities which have accepted the criteria and have become Blue Communities. While some communities have adopted resolutions for all three of the water commons framework proposed by the Blue Communities Project, there have also been others which have adopted just one or two resolutions. The City of Kamloops now recognizes water as a human right and Parksville, British Columbia has also recognized the right to water as well as supporting publicly owned water services.

Staff recommend that this Council follow the example of Parksville, B.C. by adopting two of the three resolutions (in part) proposed by the Blue Communities Project: recognizing water as a human right, and recognizing and continuing to operate a water and wastewater facility which is highly regulated and controlled to ensure clean, healthy and safe drinking water and adopt a modified version of the outright ban on bottled water suggested by the Blue Communities Project, and instead state that Council promotes the provision of tap water at City meetings. By adopting these resolutions the City is recognizing the importance of water to human life and the importance of assuring users of the precautions and controls necessary to ensure clean, healthy and safe drinking water, regardless of ownership and is ensuring that the public maintains access to a healthy, convenient beverage at City facilities and events. Both Canal Days and the Flavours of Niagara festival and other City sponsored festivals or events will still be permitted to sell bottled water which will provide convenient and sanitary means of hydration to the public.

4) OPTIONS AND FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

a) Do nothing.

The ramifications of doing nothing would be minimal. As of now, the City of Port Colborne is already operating publicly owned water and waste-water services. Bottled water would still be available to be sold at municipal events and within municipal buildings.

b) Other Options

If Council is to accept the recommendation of recognizing water as a human right and Report No.: 2012-23 Page 5 of737 93 promoting the continued implementation of precautions and controls necessary to ensure clean, healthy and safe drinking water, regardless of ownership, the City of Port Colborne would continue to operate the water services which are currently in place. To go along with recognizing water as a human right it is important to educate the public on any potential water issues.

The option of banning plastic bottled water could be exercised by Council; however, for the reasons cited in this report there are numerous disadvantages and in Staff's view, few advantages to ban bottled water. Consequently staff do not recommend the outright ban of bottled water but do support Council's favourable consideration of recognizing water as a human right and operating public water and waste-water services that ensures public responsibility and citizen assurance of clean and pure drinking water and that places the health and safety of users as the priority over profit

5) COMPLIANCE WITH STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVES

None.

6) ATTACHMENTS

City of Port Col borne: Canadian Beverage Association's Position on Bottled Water

7) RECOMMENDATION

That the Corporation ofthe City ofPort Co/borne resolve that:

A. This Council recognizes and affirms that access to clean water is a fundamental human right and calls on the Federal and Provincial governments to enshrine water as a human right in Federal and Provincial law and calls on the government of Canada to support the recognition of water as a human right in international law, and;

B. This Council strongly supports the supply of public drinking water by primarily government entities; however, council also supports focusing on the provision and implementation of clearly defined and controlled standards for how drinking water is provided and ensuring there are severe consequences for non-compliance; and also calls on the Federal government to fulfill its responsibility to support municipal infrastructure by investing in a national water infrastructure fund that would address the growing need to renew existing water and wastewater infrastructure and build new systems, and;

C. This Council recognizes that water provides a healthy alternative to most other beverages, and as such, to ensure residents and visitors to the City will have the option of making a healthy choice when in attendance at City facilities, will whenever possible, provide easy access to municipal tap water.

Report No.: 2012-23 Page 6 of 7 38 94 8) SIGNATURES

Prepared on July 9, 2012 by: Reviewed by: ~~ a~ L o Trevor Rowntree Darlene SuddaW "--"\.. Environmental Compliance Student Environmental Compliance Supervisor

Reviewe ~ctfully Submitted: Reviewed by:

'---l\1----~/1 \ ------...... ~------Robert J Heil Chief Ad inistrative Officer Director, Engineering &Operations

Report No.: 2012-23 Page 7 of7 gg 95 CITY OF PORT ALBERNI

PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT REPORT

TO: Ken Watson, City Manager I concur. forward to ner.l Regular Council Meeting Scott Kenny, Director of Parks and Recreation FROM: for Consideration:. . '

COPlESTO: Ron Doetzel, Manager of Recreation Services Ken Watson. City Manager DATE: August 25, 401 i

SUBJECT: Bottled Water Use

Issue:

At the regular meeting of Council held on August 22, 2011, Councilor Mcleman requested a report on the impact if banning the sale of bottled water in City facilities and distribution at special events.

Background:

The City currently sells bottled water in the concessions and vending machines at the Alberni Valley Multiplex and Glenwood Centre as well as vending machines in Echo Centre. The respective volumes are as follows:

FACILITY CONCESSION VENDING MACHINES TOTAL NET REVENUE AV Multiplex (2010} $1779.75 $2364.75 $4144.50 Glenwood Centre (2010) $350.00 n/a $350.00 Echo Centre (201 0) n/a $"1665.00 $1665.00 $6159.50

The number of drinking fountains in City Parks and Facilities was reduced several years ago as part of our seririce cuts and budget reductions. Our current inventory is as follows:

FACILITY INSIDE OUTSIDE AV Multiplex Yes. one in front lobby No Glenwood Centre Echo Park Fieldhouse Yes, beside concession window Echo Centre Yes, beside main lobby washrooms No Aquatic Centre Yes. in pool area No Gyro Centre No, removed -cost reductions Harbour Quay By washrooms (out of orded_ Bob Dailey Stadium Yes, by flagpoles Rogers Creek Park Yes, by spray park Russell Park No, removed -cost reductions Weaver Park No, removed -cost reductions

REGULAR COUNCIL AGENDA a SEPTEMBER 12, 2011 228

280 96 [Dept Name} Department Page2. Date Report to Coundl

River Road Park No, removed -cost reductions sweeney Field No, removed -cost reductions 11m Ave Park No, removed -cost reductions Glenwood Small Park No, removed -cost reductions Kiwanis Park I No, removed -cost reductions Stirling Field I No,. removed -cost reductions Williamson Park No, removed -cost reductions

Discussion:

Total bottled water sales for2010 averaged approximately $6159, which translates into annual sales through our concessions and vending machines of 3080 units,

While we understand the issue behinq banning the sales of bottled water, it seems a bit odd that We would be moving towards banning the. healthiest beverage choice available in our facilities. Having V!later fountains available in the same facilities is not a satisfactory alternative fn our view. We · should also mention that in our experience at the facility, we have found that many adults will not use drinking fountains and often discourage their kids from doing the same. If this motion were to · be supported. we would continue to stock and sell all of our other beverage choices, many of which are in plastic bottles and not the healthiest one, wat~r!

Recommendation

The following resolution is proposed:

1. That COuncil for the City ofPort Albeminot support the proposal to ban the sale of boWed water in City facilities or at City functions. 2. That Council for the City of Pott Alberniencourage the public use of City waterfrom drinking fountains and direct the Parks and Recreation Department to include costs for restoration and maintenance ofpublic drinking fountains in City Parks during the 2012 budget presentations.

Respectfully·submitted,

Scott Kenny Director of Parks and R,ecreation

L:\EthD Activity Centre\Data\Scott Kenny\Facilitl,.s\General Faciri!y lnfo\Bottled Water Report 2012.oocx

REGULAR COUNCIL AGENDA- SEPTEMBER 12. 2011 229

281 J 97 We're losing our freedom bit by bit with bans Page I of2

We're losing our freedom bit by bit with bans

BY MAUREEN BADER, THE PROVINCE .'i'·i'·'U!' ., '( . ,•; ··" '

These dayrt. w~ ~re bqmbardec;t with c!emanO.s for oans by ~ g~rden v~riety of S.I.!PPort~rs of the.rwnny state and politicians are happy to help. Politicians ~eem to adore bans. Why? E!ecl;!UsJ~ P?H~ allow politicians to appe~r to be creating simple solutions to whatever problems have captured the imagination of the worrying class. HowE?ver; bans also create unintended consequences and even worse; they reduce responsible people to supetvised children with few opportunities to make choices on their own.

A well-intentioned public risks being buried under the ban demands ofthe ban-crazy worrying class. Its list of bans reads like some body's day out at the mall. Bottled water and incandescent light bulb bans litter the province. Plastic bags may. soon be banned across Canada. Greater Victoria has just voted to ban teems from tanning beds. Ban the tan? \Nhen no intrusion is too small for government to consider, it's a sign the nanny state has run amok.

Bans might seem like a good idea on the surface, but have unintended consequences that sometimes cre;:~te even bigger problems than the ones they were supposed to solve. For example, although the City ofVancouver voted to phase out the sale of bottled water, the cash-strapped Vancouver Parks Board has refused to stop selling bottled water at park facilities because it would lose $250,000 in revenue on bottled water sales.

The green social engineers in the provincial government have banned incandescent light bulbs and want everyone to replace them with compact fluorescent bulbs. Compact fluorescents contain mercury, and mercury is dangerous to human health. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warns if a fluorescent bulb breaks, leave the room immediately and air out the room for 10-15 minutes. Then go back into the room and put all the broken fragments into a sealed container. Put the container in the trash outside and continue airing out the room for several hours. People worried about mercury poisoning, not to mention skyrocketing home heating costs, might want to consider stocking up on incandescent bulbs.

Plastic bags are another everyday·item subject to the attention of the worrying class, but their replacement appears to have problems as well. Many people have voluntarily chosen to replace plastic bags with reusable cloth bags. Seems well intentioned. However it should come as no surprise by now that the law of untended consequences comes into play here too. Turns out reusable bags fill up not only with groceries, but with bacteria as well. Worse yet, some contain lead and, in what has to be a moment oftrue irony, threaten to fill landfills. Go figure.

So while bans are great tools for politicians to get lots of positive media attention while appearing to be doing something tough on some issue, they som~times create new problems.

http://\;vv..w.theprovince.com/story_print.html?id=4Il6405&sponsor= 1117/2011 282 98 We're losing our freedom bit by bit with bans Pag,e 2 of2

Worse yet, as we leave more and more decisions in the hands of the nanny statis1s, we are, bit by bit, chipping away at our freedom of choice. It's time to stop asking government to solve every problem by banning everything undesirable in products and other people.

Bans might seem like a good idea, but once government's role stretches beyond keeping us safe from violations and invasions by other people and other nations, we are in danger of losing our ability to make even the simplest choices about how to lead our own lives.

Maureen Bader is a Vancouver writer.

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