As omnipresent as it is today, it may be difficult to remember that bottled water was a novelty just 10-20 years ago. It was once a trendy accessory or punch line for pampered celebrities – “she demanded 10 bottles of Perrier to wash her hair with.” Now, thanks to a turn towards healthy lifestyles and aggressive marketing, bottled water has become as common and widely available as, well, tap water.

Credit: Suat Eman

With the threat of privatisation and landfills overflowing with empty plastic bottles, The Canadian Federation of Students, Polaris Institute and The Sierra Youth Coalition have teamed up to spearhead Canada’s first Bottled Water Free Day on March 11th. You are invited to take the pledge to “not drink bottled water where public water is available” and to “ditch the bottle and turn on the tap!” If you are still not convinced, here are some of the scarier facts you may not know about the bottled water industry:

o In terms of environmental impact, consider the following: for every bottle you drink, TWO bottles are used to produce it.

o According to the Pacific Institute, 17 million barrels of oil were used to produce the 31.2 billion litres of bottled water consumed in the United States.

o Between the shipping of raw materials to plants and the finished product to shelves, the industry is a HUGE contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Imagine what it takes to ship Fiji Water from Fiji or San Pellegrino from Italy…

o The energy cost of producing a plastic bottle is equal to filling ¼ of that bottle with crude oil.

o Bottled water and plastic resource companies have spent MILLIONS to fight against deposit return programs. These programs would require them to assume some of the recycling costs and of course, lessen the demand for their products.

o 10-15% of the price of a bottle of water goes to advertising costs.

o What the advertisers fail to mention in these ads is that in terms of quality, NOTHING about bottled water is different from tap water – except its cost.

o In fact, marketing campaigns have been so effective that they have contributed to a diminished confidence in public water systems and have set the ball rolling for privatisation of water services; consumers would be willing to pay more for “safer” water.

Regulation of the bottled water industry vs. regulation of tap water:

o In Canada, bottled water is considered a food product under the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations. Government oversight that exists for these regulations has not been updated since 1973.

o It is estimated that Canadian bottling plants receive, on average, one inspection every 3 to 5 years.

o There have been 29 recalls of 49 bottled water products since 2000, only five of which were made public; products were recalled due to bacterial or chemical contaminations.

o In Canada, the quality and safety of tap water is the responsibility of municipalities and provinces, though federal guidelines also apply when it comes to quantities of microbiological, chemical and radiological substances allowable in the water.

o The City of Ottawa conducts over 125,000 quality tests per year and the City of Toronto checks its water for bacteria every 4 to 6 hours.

Big business and bottled water:

o Coca Cola (Dasani) and PepsiCo (Aquafina) are two of the four “Big 4” water-bottlers (with Nestle and Danone).

o These companies actively pursue beverage exclusivity contracts in public institutions like universities and public buildings.

o School contacts are often long-term (10 years) and contain stiff conditions like quotas and enormous fees for termination.

o Free water fountains are often removed from schools while cost to operate vending machines can rise up to $175,000 per year (paid by the university).

o In Canada, 25% of bottled water sold is reprocessed tap water; most of it is sold by Coca Cola or PepsiCo.

o The bottled water industry has spent BILLIONS on marketing.

o For Coca Cola and PepsiCo, revenue for bottled water (per unit) is greater than soft drinks.

You’re convinced, now what can you do?

o Visit the site, get informed
o Take the pledge
o Keep the pledge – This isn’t just for one day, it’s a real commitment
o Inform others – Talk about it, tell even just one person or print the free advertising materials available on the website
o Get your school/business/municipality to sign up – So far, 3 universities have made the commitment to ban bottled water, as have cities from 8 provinces and 2 territories
o Also, visit Brita’s “Filter for Good” campaign and pledge to replace bottled water with reusable containers.

The bottled water industry is less regulated than municipal water systems, consumes more energy and releases more harmful toxins into the environment than tap water. If that were not enough, privatisation increases the risk of regulation of a resource that is vital to life. And if that doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will.

We have a lot of people search our site for information about eco-audits, so EC decided to find out more about eco-audits and what you can expect during an eco-audit. Alexandra Henriques (AH), founder of ECO-Audit was kind enough to answer our questions.

EC: So I guess the first question is, what is an ECO-audit?

AH: An ECO-audit helps families and small businesses green their footprint, save money, but above all protect the health of their members. Why? Because almost everything in the average home is slowly poisoning us. Asthma, allergies, and cancer are rising worldwide at alarming rates. Children are the most vulnerable to this assault, but we can protect them. Through the home or business premises audits we do, we facilitate the adoption of sustainable, healthy, and cost-effective materials, products and practices.

EC: What is your background and how did you get into the business of ECO-audits?

AH: I have been a life-long environmentalist, with over 25 years of experience pursuing sustainable practices and applying them. My professional background is in education, which has come in very handy. I find there is a lot of education to do around mainstream products and practices which are no good for the environment — or us. ECO-audit also does sustainability education by providing workshops, and my experience developing learning materials for adults, and facilitating learning has been invaluable. I got into this business because I wanted to share all the environmental knowledge I had, and help others.

EC: What can I expect, when I get an ECO-audit?

AH: When you get an ECO-audit you can expect an appointment on a day and time that’s convenient for you, an interview to determine your concerns and objectives, and a thorough audit of the home or business premises. This will take from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours. Within a week, you will receive by email the audit report, this will include all positive actions being taken presently, problem areas with concrete suggestions, a glossary of terms used, and a list of resources relevant to your issues and area. The second scheduled appointment will then take place to discuss the report, answer any questions, and help you on your way to healthier sustainability.
Ongoing support is included in an audit, anytime you hit a roadblock; help is just a phone call or email away.

EC: What types of eco-audits do you conduct?

AH: Besides the whole home or business premises audits, we have Focus Audits, featuring the BABY-audit - “peace of mind for expecting parents”, a very similar Pet-audit, a Diet-audit, which helps you become a locavore, green your diet, and avoid contaminants, especially important for children; we also have for D.I.Y.ers the Reno-audit, the Yard-audit, and the Move-audit; finally we have a Transportation-audit that helps those who want to drive less, but are not sure how to go about it.

EC: What are some of the things you might suggest new parents look for?

AH:To new parents I would suggest less is more, and go back to basics. What we see all around in our society is excess, but not necessarily quality, often just quantity. Go for the quality and protect your baby. For example, you say organic cotton is expensive, I say the baby doesn’t need 10 teething toys, a couple will do, get something healthy you don’t have to worry about. Go back to the basic toys all children enjoy, ones made by craftspeople out of solid wood for example, with healthy finishes, not plastic whose ingredients you can’t check and mass produced by exploited workers.

EC: When I took at look at your website, I was really interested in the Yard-audit. I have always thought we should rethink our yards to focus on native plants especially the plants that attract the birds, bees, butterflies and other animals. Our yards should really be part of the natural circle of life. Is that the focus of a Yard-audit?

AH: Yes, that is definitely part of a Yard-audit, we have strayed too far away from nature, by starting with only native plants and then the value-added of drought-resistance we get on the right path again. Choosing to attract birds, butterflies or bees gives even more value. We can go even further by incorporating in the yard bird feeders, baths, or bird houses, a rain barrel, a composting bin, a dog W.C., a laundry line, or games.

EC: Is there anything else that you would like to add?

AH: Check our website for our Spring workshops, and you can also sign up for our blog.

EC: In closing, I noticed that there are gift certificates on your site. What a great idea for a house warming gift or for a shower gift for new parents. Alexandra, thank you for your time.

Yesterday I highlighted three social entrepreneurs with links outside of Canada. Today I will focus on five social enterprises that are fully Canadian. There are so many social enterprises to choose from and it was incredibly difficult to narrow it down to five, but I think these five really show different types of businesses with a variety of goals all within the realm of social enterprise.

EthniCity Catering

Pure genius. It started out with a few requests for ethnic foods. Today EthnicCity Catering offers high quality, multi-ethnic food to Calgarians. It employs immigrant women in transition and breaks the cycle of “no Canadian work experience, no Canadian work.” I was amazed to learn that women are usually employed by EthniCity Catering for only three months before they find other work or pursue further education. Wow!

Away Courier

When I came across this business, I was amazed to find that they have been around for 22 years and have over 1,700 customers in the Toronto. They are pioneers in social enterprise.  Using public transit, Away Couriers delivers same day packages at a reasonable cost to a variety of businesses including lawyers,  medical services and government departments. Away Couriers was founded and is run by people with direct experience with the mental health system, which is an incredibly empowering and meaningful way to eliminate stereotypes.

The Cleaning Solution

The Cleaning Solution offers cleaning services to businesses, organizations such as schools and churches and government in the Greater Vancouver. They focus on quality, health and environmental safety. They also have a mandate to support individuals recovering from mental illness that are ready to enter the workforce and to combat widespread stereotypes regarding mental illness.

Youth Opportunities Unlimited: YOU

Based in Mississauga, YOU has several services, but the one I was most interested in was their three social enterprises that offer youth meaningful, hands-on job experience. In the kitchen, youth work one-on-one to create preserves that are then sold online. In the woodshop, an experienced carpenter trains youth in woodworking skills to produce exceptional furniture. Finally, at the recycling facility youth are trained in skills that will be valuable in the growing green economy.

Options Canada

Options Canada is a businesses service company that offers printing, photocopying, graphic design along with many other services. In offering these services, they also provide employment training to individuals who have an intellectual disability. The program is designed to help individuals integrate into the workforce and includes business etiquette and transferable skills. Part of the program includes a high school co-op where students can experience what it is like to work in a retail environment. As they say, “this helps them decided what path to choose after finishing school.”

Choice is important for all of us. These are great businesses to choose to work with.

Today is meatless Monday. There is a new movement in Canada which you can find at www.meatlessmonday.ca, as a group of Canadians join the global movement. The idea is that by cutting out meat at least once a week, we will be making progress toward a better future.

How, you say? According to the Meatless Monday petition,

“Every time you eat a meal free of animal products, you save 2.5 lbs. of greenhouse gas emissions, 24 square feet of land, and 133 gallons of water. If you eat three meals a day, that totals 2,737.5 lbs. of greenhouse gas, 26,280 square feet of land and 145,635 gallons of water per year, plus more.”

Tonight we are having tomato soup with pasta. Here’s the recipe.

• 1. 5 t oil
• 2 medium carrots
• 2 garlic cloves
• 16 oz can tomato sauce (or make your own)
• 16 oz can diced tomatoes (or fresh diced)
• 1 small zucchini
• 1/2 t dried oregano
• 1/2 t dill
• 8 oz fresh pasta (my kids prefer tortillini)
• salt, pepper to taste
• Parmesan cheese for topping

Heat oil in soup pot. Add carrots and saute for 5 minutes. Add garlic, and saute another 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, zucchini, oregano, dill, and 3 cups of water. Simmer covered for about 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Cook pasta separately, according to package instructions.

Stir cooked pasta into the soup and season with salt and pepper. Add the pasta and adjust spices or add water as needed. Serve, with Parmesan cheese. Add fresh bread and salad and you have yourself a meatless Monday meal.

I have to admit, I love paying for school lunches as I don’t have to dream up what to pack for lunch that day. What I don’t always like are the choices. But over the years, I have noticed the choices getting better and better. This year, an established all Canadian company is partnering with schools to provide healthy alternatives to school lunches.

Arthur’s Fresh has created a 250ml bottle of fresh fruit smoothie - including the all important pulp - for elementary schools. This 250ml bottle is the size recommended by the Dieticians of Canada and contains 2 full servings of fruit. For secondary schools, Arthur’s Fresh Juice offers up a 325ml bottle, containing 2.5 servings of fruit. The ingredients of the fresh fruit smoothies includes fruit, fruit and fruit: no preservatives, sugar or water.

At the secondary school level, the smoothies are offered through cafeterias. Since most elementary schools don’t have cafeterias, Arthur’s Fresh is working with parents, administation and school boards to offer the fruit smoothies to complement existing milk programs. If you live in Ontario, Arthur’s Fresh has a direct-to-school program in which they work with the school to find options for delivery and cooler options to keep the smoothies cool.

With only one in eight of our kids consuming the recommended five servings or fruits and vegetables each day, it is high time that we find a way to get those all important fibre and nutrients into their systems. Arthur’s Fresh fruit smoothies delivers the nutritional benefits of the whole fruit, unlike juice options, that have removed the fibre and often much of the naturally occuring vitamins in processing.

One of my main concerns with school lunches comes with the indivually packed containers that get tossed in the trash. Arthur’s Fresh has worked hard to ensure that their containers are fully recyclable.  Not only that, in 2008/2009, they dropped their greenhouse gas footprint by eight percent. Further, they are a Canadian company!

Interested? You can email them at school@arthursjuice.com or call them at 416-233-6888. You can also join them on Facebook under Arthur’s Fresh School Smoothies.

Today is World Ocean’s Day and next Sunday is Canadian Rivers Day. We take from our waters large amounts of creatures which we dine on and enjoy so much. There was a report out recently that stated that the world’s fisheries could collapse by 2048 if we do not start to adopt sustainable habits. So the last time I sat down for some seafood, I wondered what life would be like without our rich and abundant waterways. Not a world I am ready to live in.

So as a consumer what can I do? Recently, I learned that a program called Ocean Wise has gone national. Next time I plan on heading out for dinner with friends, I will find an Oceanwise restaurant. Eating fish that has been recommended by Ocean Wise allows you to enjoy each morsel knowing that it has been harvested in a manner that limits bycatch. Dolphins as a bycatch of Tuna is probably the best known example. You will also have pleasant thoughts about the ocean floor and other ocean habitats which received no or limited damage. The fish you will be eating will have come from a well managed stock that is abundant and resilient.

In fact, there is no reason not to make a reservation at your favourite Ocean Wise restaurant and head out with friends to celebrate World Ocean Day. You can toast with your favourite wine while you each make a commitment to enjoy seafood sensibly.

Weddings have traditionally been all-out affairs – for good reason, but also with no shortage of help from the all-encompassing “wedding industry” which can include everything from the obvious (dress) to the more obscure (releasing butterflies). Rebecca Mead has even written a whole book on the subject entitled One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding. EC believes your special day doesn’t have to be a resource-intensive consumption blitz to be unforgettable. You can celebrate your eternal love both stylishly and thoughtfully if you go over the details with a green-toothed comb. It’s not as complicated as it might sound, we promise!

At EC, we can get a little wrapped up with what’s going on here in British Columbia but we love to learn about your favourite resources from across Canada. Please email us or add your suggestions in the comments section if there’s something you’d like to share – perhaps we can even get a Green Wedding Resource section going for all you conscious brides and grooms out there!

EC spoke with two different specialists in the field about their work and to find out if the “going green” trend has truly permeated the wedding industry. Of course, we also asked if they had any handy tips to ensure your wedding is as eco-fabulous and hassle-free as possible. Vanessa Fedorkiw is the Victoria-based designer behind Isadora Bridal Wear and Stephanie Happach runs Vancouver’s Forever and a Day Weddings & Events.

Isadora began a few years ago as a general clothing line and started incorporating green fabrics last year as the designer learned of the consequences synthetic fabrics have on our planet. Fedorkiw claims she is still a sucker for print and texture so “…making the shift completely is still in the works as green textiles move toward a more fashion-forward vantage point. That being said, I saw this incredible hemp satin the other day – yum!”

Fedorkiw suggests there are many reasons to choose Isadora’s Eco Chameleon Gown or Bridesmaid Dress – they are organic, sustainable, and can even be worn after the wedding. The dresses are also locally made, and potential clients receive personal contact with the maker of the gown. Try that with something shipped in from overseas!

As far as the wedding industry’s growing shift toward Earth-consciousness, Fedorkiw believes we may have a ways to go. “While my line has been well received online, it has been harder to get it into traditional bridal wear stores, perhaps because they are not yet seeing a shift in brides’ priorities.” You see? It is up to us green-minded ladies and gentlemen to increase demand, putting pressure on retailers to supply greener options.

Happach finds today’s brides both environmentally and budget conscious. “A lot of times I see brides looking for items that can be purchased and re-used or rented, and this reduces waste and consumption as well as cost.” Happach notes that personalizing your wedding with your own original details makes it a true reflection of who you are as a couple and avoids making it yet another cookie-cutter event. There are many ways to do this and remain friendly to the Earth at the same time – just use your imagination. You can also check out our Green Wedding Buying Guide for plenty of inspiration and more tips.

How does an eco-conscious wedding planner differ from a traditional planner? Happach finds herself somewhere in the middle. “As someone who’s been quite earth-conscious for many years now, I like to incorporate recycling practices into my work as much as possible and make materials stretch. I always recycle all the packaging of purchased decor items like plastic wrap, paper and cardboard. I try to come up with ways to cut down on materials as much as possible, for example, favours can double as placecards.” Happach suggests working with local vendors and industry professionals where the wedding is going to be held to support local business and economy – this is a green choice for many reasons and also reduces travel.

Other tips for greener weddings an eco-diva may not think of?

VF: I think it’s a simple reduce, reuse and recycle if possible. For our wedding, we had a simple cake but it was decorated with organically grown edible flowers – so pretty. We also decorated with feathers; feather boas at the head table instead of disposable paper stuff. My bridesmaids also got to keep the boas afterwards – who doesn’t need a feather boa in their wardrobe? Also, vases of small peacock feathers became the wedding favours for the guests.

Need help? Here’s Happach’s checklist of what to keep an eye out for in order to land a stellar wedding planner:
- Do you get a quick response to email, phone contact?
- Will they offer you an initial consultation (usually complimentary)?
- What services do they offer?
- Ask for recommendations
- Do they have a portfolio?
- Number of events/weddings completed
- Will they work within your budget?
- Most important – do you connect with them and do they listen to you?

Have you had a wedding recently? Planning one? Let us know your own tips and stories, we would love to share them.

There are a multitude of reasons for you and your family to start eating organic foods. Organic farming and food is better for health, can prevent the onset of future disease and illness and reduces exposure to toxic elements in our environment. But… that’s not all. Read on to find out why you and your family should go organic!

1. Reduce your intake of harmful herbicides and pesticides
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 60% of all herbicides (weed killers), 90% of all fungicides (mold killers), and 30% of all insecticides (insect killers) are potentially cancer causing. Unfortunately, the usage of herbicides and pesticides is on the rapid rise in our food sources. According to testing carried out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, conventionally grown fruits and vegetables are:

·    Three to more than four times more likely on average to contain residues than organic produce;
·    Eight to 11 times more likely to contain multiple pesticide residues than organic samples;
·    Shown to contain residues at levels three to 10 times higher, on average, than corresponding residues in organic samples.

2. Protect our children – Children are at higher risk to the effects of herbicides and pesticides due to their smaller body size and faster metabolism. In recent years, there has been a rise in childhood illnesses that have been linked to the increase use of herbicides and pesticides such as asthma and cancer. According to the Environmental Working Group, “More than 1 million children between the ages of 1 and 5 ingest at least 15 pesticides every day from fruits and vegetables. More than 600,000 of these children eat a dose of organophosphate insecticides that the federal government considers unsafe, and 61,000 eat doses that exceed benchmark levels by a factor of 10 or more.”

3. Protection against the onset of future illness or disease
There are over 7,000 different herbicide and pesticide products currently available in Canada. Many of these were approved prior to 1960 when their long term effects were unknown. Creating a causal link between the increase of various diseases and herbicide/pesticide usage is quite difficult due to the complexities involved such as age of person, combination of chemicals and genetic pre-disposition. However, there is a strong body of evidence linking various cancers (i.e. non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma), asthma and neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s to the increase in usage of herbicides and pesticides. In addition, childhood cancers are also on the rise.

4. The quality of nutrition is improved
According to a review of 41 studies designed to compare the nutritional value of conventional vs. organically grown fruits, vegetables and grains, organic produce was nutritionally superior. Specifically, organic crops contained 27% more vitamin C, 21.1% more iron, 29.3% more magnesium and 13% more phosphorus. This improvement in nutritional quality is largely due to the health and richness of the soil.

In another study, disease fighting chemicals called flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables were significantly higher in organic berries and corn. Flavonoids offer powerful protection against various cancers and allergies.

5. The taste is better!
When biting into an organic fruit or vegetable, you can instantly taste the difference. Whether it is an organic banana or sweet potato, organic food bursts with flavor. To accurately measure the improvement in taste, a study was conducted by Washington State University in Pullman, measuring the taste of organic food vs. conventionally grown crops. The results confirmed that organic produce was sweeter, firmer and more intact after 6 months of storage.

6. Reduces the amount of antibiotic residue found in your meat
The usage of antibiotics in cattle and livestock has now become a commonplace practice to prevent illness and disease from occurring. Organic livestock are provided with an environment that promotes good health and the ethical treatment of animals which eliminates the need for medications. According to the Organic Trade Association, “Organic practices prohibit the use of hormones, antibiotics or other animal drugs in animal feed for the purpose of stimulating the growth or production of livestock. If an antibiotic is used to restore an animal to health, that animal cannot be used for organic production or be sold, labeled or represented as organic. Thus, organic practices avoid the abuse of antibiotics that could have profound consequences for treatment of disease in humans, including the serious dangers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.”

7. Decreases soil erosion
Organic farmers act responsibly to protect the soil from future damage and depletion. In order to receive the designation of certified organic, the soil must be free of all herbicides and pesticides for a minimum of 3 years. In addition, organic farmers use various techniques to maintain the integrity of the soil such as crop rotation, composting and the elimination of any prohibited fertilizers.

8. Organic certification is strictly monitored
Organic food handlers, processors and retailers are held to the strictest of standards to maintain the quality assurances necessary to be labeled certified organic. Organic farmers are also audited 2-3 times yearly by the organic review board to ensure they are upholding the high standards.

9. Protection of our waters
Current conventional farming practices cause dangerous “spill offs” due to the usage of synthetic fertilizers. These fertilizers can cause an overabundance of nitrogen in the ground and have been linked to the development of various cancers. In contrast, organic agriculture uses natural materials in the soil that protects drinking water supplies and safeguards against water contamination.

10. Protects the environment
According to Health Canada, “Organic agriculture is a holistic system of production with a principle goal to develop productive enterprises that are sustainable and harmonious with the environment”.  In a nutshell, organic farming is much healthier for the planet by significantly reducing toxic exposure in our soil, water, air and for the prevention of illness and disease in future generations.

Dr. Joel Shulman is head nutritionist at Sweetpea Baby Food, and one of Canada’s foremost authorities on nutrition and wellness.  Reprinted with permission from Sweetpea Baby Food.

Picture this: you’ve found the perfect recipe for a healthy Friday night meal after a long and busy week; you’ve picked up your mostly organic ingredients, braved crowded rush-hour traffic, and you’re finally all set to start slicing and dicing but….WAIT! You know your veggies are chemical-free but what’s in your cookware? Just when you thought you had nothing left to worry about it turns out that the answer to this question is more important than you might think. After reading Adria Vasil’s Ecoholic, it became evident that virtually anything with some sort of synthetic coating was probably not a safe bet – and that means everything from Teflon to “wrinkle-free” khakis doused in Stainmaster®. While non-stick cookware and bakeware seem to be an awesome modern-day invention, it turns out stainless steel or cast iron options used with a little extra butter or cooking oil are not so bad after all. Vasil notes PFOA, Perfluorooctanoic Acid for long, is more persistent in our environment than the infamous pesticide DDT and 95% of us have traces of PFOA in our bloodstreams. These babies are bioaccumulative, meaning they build up in our systems over time with exposure and are with us for life. According to an excellent report from the Environmental Working Group you can find here, companies like DuPont are phasing out toxic PFOA in Teflon and other grease-resistant coatings used in food packaging but the new “green” substitute is apparently not much better. Health Canada has banned the new substitute but ironically the old stuff is still ok. To add politics to the mix, since Reagan/Thatcher-era neoliberalism, which saw a startling decrease in government controls and a surge in corporate power, we have seen the dangerous repercussions of multinationals putting profits before the safety of people and governments lagging far behind in legislating much-needed change to our regulatory system. These types of issues really come down to policy – the government should be enforcing safety regulations for consumer goods rather than taking the “let’s-wait-and-see” approach, essentially making us guinea pigs and having to go the damage control route when people get sick or the truth comes out. EWG advises opting out of stain treatments for new carpets and furniture, avoiding stain-resistant clothing and non-stick pans and utensils, cutting back on packaged fast-foods, skipping the microwave popcorn and not using personal care products with “PTFE” or “perfluoro” on the ingredient list. I would also add not to trust anything DuPont or 3M! Oh, and junk the non-stick kitchen gear; not sure if there is any safe way to dispose of that stuff.

We live in a country where water seems abundant. We have clean potable water available to the majority of us by simply turning on the tap. In  the rest of the world, 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. Many of these 1.1 billion people would sell a kidney for potable water or give their life for a supply of potable water for their children. Why then, do we buy bottled water?

There is a perception among some people in Canada that our tap water is suspect. Look at Walkerton where 7 people died when agricultural waste leached e-coli into the water supply or at Metro Vancouver where there was a boil water advisory in November 2006 as a large storm breached the watershed.  It looks like our water may not be safe.  But, where does that bottle water come from? It comes from the same sources as our tap water does in many cases, so if our tap water is not safe how is it safe to put the same water into plastic bottles which they then sell back to us at a price per litre higher than gas.

Here are 3 good reasons to drink tap water

Cost

We complain about the price of a litre of gasoline, but are willing to pay even more for a litre of water. If gas came out of a tap in your house, would you go out and buy it in little plastic containers? If you buy one plastic bottle of water each day for a year, you are spending $547.50 per year. That is $547.60 you could put to a better use. Tap water only costs an average of $1.26 for 1000 litres in Canada, so 365 litres will cost you $0.46 plus the price of a reusable water container.  You choose between $547.50 and $0.46 annually.

The Environment

Let’s do the math on this one. It takes one barrel of oil to make about 5000 water bottles. In Toronto, where they have a successful recycling program, 35% of the 100 million plastic disposable bottles that are discarded each year end up in the landfill. That’s 35 million plastic bottles or 7000 modified barrels of oil going to the landfill per year. Why? Because we insist on paying extra for tap water in a bottle, and then tossing the bottle in the garbage.

That  brings us to the garbage dilemma. These 100 million bottles tossed in the landfill each year will each take up to 1000 years to biodegrade. How long can the environment sustain this level of toxic, non-biodegradable garbage? Ten years ago, we did not drink bottled water so this is yet another additional burden on our planet.

Your Health

Tap water is regulated by the your Provincial/Territorial Health Authority and bottled water is regulated by Canada’s Food and Drugs Act. This means that your tap water is probably tested at least once daily and at several points through out the system while bottled water is tested annually. If you think that contamination can only happen to tap water, think again. Can you think of any food recalls? There have been more food recalls in my town than there have been problems with tap water, and that is probably the same for you.

Another health issue related to regulation include those informative labels that we now have on our food. I think these labels are great, but they don’t always tell the entire story. When it comes to water, the  regulations need review for a number of reasons. Here is a quote from Health Canada with an explanation,

“Apart from setting limits on arsenic and lead, the current Regulations do not contain specific, detailed parameters for chemical and radiological contaminants in bottled water and packaged ice, so the Government uses the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality as a benchmark to assess the safety of bottled water. But nothing in the Regulations obliges manufacturers to observe the Guidelines during the production of bottled water and packaged ice.”

According to the labels on the bottled water we buy in Canada, it has no calories or sugar in it, but it might have nitrates, which are only safe in levels under 10. In Europe and many other parts of the world, bottled water labels must include the levels of nitrates. Here is an example of an informative water label.

What can you do?

1. Drink tap water at home and at work.
2. Buy a reusable water bottle and take it with you.
3. Ask for tap water when you are out.
4. Learn more and advocate for Canada’s water systems. Here are some places you can learn more…

http://www.ecojustice.ca/clean-water

http://www.safewater.org/

http://www.worldwater.org/