Most recent print edition: Jul 28

– Last updated: Today

• About Us
• |
• Contact Us
• |
• Advertising
• |
• Submissions

Science & Tech

Water bottles: Use refillable instead of refundable

Rebekah Hammond - Science & Tech Editor

TRU promotes using reusable water containers over refundable bottles.

March 11 was national Bottled Water-Free Day and TRUSU celebrated it by handing out free, reusable water bottles and encouraging students to drink tap water. "Local water supplies are inspected every day - bottled supplies every three days," read one of the facts on the bookmarks they handed out. "We wanted to recognize the day and push that there's water bottle refilling stations all over campus," said Kyle Bowman, TRUSU's president. Despite windy conditions, Bowman and others from TRUSU set up a table outside Old Main asking students if they knew about the new stations and offered a choice between a free blue, or green reusable water bottle. There are 18 refill stations, including water fountains, on campus. Locations include two main ones in Old Main one in the library and couple in the Arts and Education Building.

"It's easier and nicer on the environment," said Maddison Irwin, a fourth-year BA of science student. "I usually drink [water] from the fountain or drink it from my bottled water I bring from home." When students remember to bring refillable mugs and water bottles it can reduce waste, Bowman said.

"One of the biggest contributors that students make to garbage is definitely using the Tim Hortons' coffee cups as well as not bringing their water bottles and buying their water bottles," he said.

TRUSU, is working with TRU Environment and Sustainability and other services on campus to reduce bottled-water consumption on campus. The initiative has not caused conflict with food services on campus selling bottled water. "[Gerard Hayes] (director of ancillary services who oversees TRU's food services) is still selling bottled water, but he's still promoting the day," Bowman said. "So we're getting supporting from everyone around campus. I think they recognized it's an issue that needs to be solved."

"There [were] signs at Tim Hortons and everywhere encouraging people not to buy water," Hayes said. "[TRU] has given away more [reusable] containers than ever before in the past year. I think the education is working."

TRUSU gave away about 200 water bottles on Bottled Water-Free Day.

Bowman reminded students to "make sure you use the water bottle when you take them, not just leave it at [your] houses."

Plastic water bottles are environmentally unfriendly in many regards.

Every liter of bottled water sold represents three liters of water, according to the website of the Pacific Institute, an American environmental research group. In addition to the water in the bottles, twice as much water is used in production.

The non-partisan institute has also estimated that if the energy used to bottle water was measured, it would amount to about the same as filling a plastic bottle one quarter of the way full with oil.