As part of an ongoing national campaign of over a year organized by the Polaris Institute, Canadian Federation of Students and the Sierra Youth Coalition, students are mobilizing and taking action to challenge the corporate control of water on campus. Campus community organizers are raising awareness about the harmful impacts of bottled water ñ a product that costs much more than tap water, is less regulated, consumes more energy and releases more harmful toxic substances.

Organizers are also drawing attention to the impacts of beverage exclusivity contracts, and the lack of access to public tap water infrastructure on Canadian campuses. A survey released in September by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Canadian Union of Public Employees and Polaris Institute, found that 33% of respondents noticed a reduction in the number of water fountains on campus and 43% cited delays in repairing them.

Today, there are over 50 bottled water free zones on 21 campuses - spaces where bottled water is not being purchased or used, alternatives such as glasses, pitchers and reusable stainless steel containers for tap water are being promoted and provided. This is part of a growing movement that includes municipalities, labour and environmental organizations:

30 municipalities from 7 provinces have taken action on bottled water and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) recently urged their members to phase out the purchase and sale of bottled water in municipal facilities.

The DSU is proud to be working alongside coalition partners to see Dawson College become the first post-secondary institutions in Quebec to adopt a progressive elimination on the sale of bottled water.

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