Ban the bottle

Students lead ‘Back to the tap’ challenge

Water Watch Acadia celebrated a landmark achievement in their fight to bring the campus community “ back to the tap.”

On the first National Bottled Water Free Day, the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre lived up to the day’s name. From March 11, no bottled water will be sold in the building – not from the building’s café, vending machine or at catered events.

Students, faculty and administration celebrated by signing a pledge to support Acadia becoming a bottled water free campus with pitchers of tap water, a ribbon cutting, speeches, anti-bottled water songs and an appearance by the Blue Warriors.

Water Watch coordinators Amy Buckland-Nicks, Brynne Sinclair-Waters and Ali Vervaeke say there are five big reasons not to drink bottled water: it’s more expensive than tap water, less regulated than municipal water, harder on the environment, part of a push to privatize water supplies and undermines worldwide access to safe drinking water.

Executive director Peter Romkey says the centre wanted to “take a step ahead” by being the first on campus to go bottle-free and is looking at innovative ways to provide water to visitors without plastic bottles.

With Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) Acadia and the Ivan Curry School of Engineering, a water fountain designed for filling reusable containers will be installed soon, with more to follow.

“ We like to be on the leading edge, “ he added.

The Pepsi machine in the building’s basement has been emptied of bottled water. Acadia has an exclusive contract with Pepsi, Water Watch coordinator Amy Buckland-Nicks says, and the complexities of the agreement with the beverage giant is one of “the biggest challenges to work out.” Romkey spoke with Pepsi on the groups behalf and says the company “ has been very supportive.”

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