In September the University of Winnipeg will become the first Canadian university to ban the sale of bottled water, benefiting both the environment and students who may not be able to afford overpriced bottled water.
Although Carleton does not need to act as drastically, our university can also play a role in helping Mother Earth and catering to the needs of all students.
By increasing the number of water fountains on campus and quickly repairing those out of commission, students will not need to search campus aimlessly for a means to quench their thirst – a search that often ends at a vending machine or the food court.
As soon as thirsty individuals are forced to visit the vending machine, the allure of juices and sodas priced the same as water can encourage students to make unhealthy choices.
Never mind the fact that pricing water at the same rate as pop or juice is a scam – after all, the difference between bottled and tap water is negligible – water, like air, is a necessity for life. Dehydrated students should not have to choose between buying a $2.00 bottle of water or paying bus fare for their ride home.
Also, with increased availability to safe, free, public drinking water and strategic advertising to encourage students to drink from reusable water bottles, sales of bottled water will likely decline, reducing litter and the amount of plastic carelessly thrown in the garbage. This will increase the aesthetic appeal of our campus as well as help the environment.
So, as global warming tears apart the planet and students suffer from the worst recession they have ever experienced, Carleton needs to ensure students have the opportunity to fill up their own water bottles on campus.