City to study plastic water bottle use

City of Powell River Council wants more information on plastic water bottles before making decisions on availability on city-owned property.

During council’s Tuesday, August 4, committee of the whole meeting, Councillor Russell Brewer said he was presenting two draft resolutions for the committee to consider.

The committee could not immediately agree with one resolution that relates to the use of single serving, plastic water bottles. The matter had previously been sent to staff and a report had been received on abandoning these bottles at city facilities.

Brewer said the city was locked into a contract for bottled water through the vending machines at Powell River Recreation Complex. When those contracts come up for renewal, it is an opportunity to do something different, he said.

“It would be a good idea to consider and I’d like to see this go to council,” Brewer said.

He brought forward the other resolution several years ago, which suggests that water is a human right. The resolution calls for promotion and support of public and non-profit ownership of water.

“It’s following in the realm of advocacy and being proactive on the part of the community given all of the discussion we’ve had on water,” Brewer said.

A number of other communities have privatized water services and for the most part have regretted it and turned it back to public operation, he added.

Councillor Maggie Hathaway said this resolution was specific to the City of Powell River. She was wondering if it was Brewer’s intention to also include Powell River Regional District.

Brewer said he thinks this would be an appropriate resolution to go to the regional district.

Councillor Jim Palm said he supports the resolution calling for public and non-profit ownership of water but the bottled water resolution gave him cause for concern. He said there are events held outdoors throughout the city and in this day and age people need access to water for hydration. In some of these places tap water is not available.

“I think this resolution may be going a little too far,” he said. “Water is something the public demands and we can’t supply that in every jurisdiction or for every function.”

Brewer suggested the water ownership resolution calling for water to be recognized as a human right be sent to council. Committee chair Councillor CaroleAnn Leishman suggested the second go back to staff for a report on vending contracts and the kinds of infrastructure that could be supplied to provide water at community events.