A new campaign has targeted March 11 as the day students and workers on Canadian campuses take back their taps and fountains.
Bottled Water Free Day is a joint project of the Canadian Federation of Students, Sierra Youth Coalition and Polaris Institute.
It’s increasingly difficult to access public drinking water on some Canadian campuses. Public fountains aren’t being maintained – or installed in new buildings. And bottled water corporations are moving in to corner the market, replacing public infrastructure with private vending machines.
All CUPE members can get involved. You don’t have to be a student or post-secondary worker to take the campaign’s tap water pledge.
For students and workers on campus, there’s a list of action ideas.
In 2009, the University of Winnipeg became the first campus to formally take a stand on bottled water. Memorial University in Newfoundland, and Brandon University in Manitoba have also taken action, and other movements are bubbling up.
Add your campus to the list. Visit bottledwaterfreeday.ca to get involved.