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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-02-18, Page 13Town and schools ban bottled water Last week, in an effort to promote the town's drinking water and to sup- port its use by residents and visitors, Goderich Town Council passed By - Law 24 of 2009 which bans the sell- ing and providing of bottled water in Town operated buildings. This treasure supports a position taken by the Association of Munici- palities of Ontario to increase aware- ness of the affordability, health and safety of municipal tap water, and the need for continuing public invest- ments in infrastructure to provide clear water td municipalities. Similarly, at their February loth meeting, the Avon Maitland District School Board received a recommen- dation from its Environmental Lead- ership and Education Committee Vice -Chair, Trustee Doug Pratley. It recommended that the purchase and sale of bottled water be prohibited on all AMDSB board property, except where required for medical or emer- gency purposes. The board approved this recom- mendation effective January 1, 2010. An impact study is to be undertaken before then to assess the cost imple- mentation the prohibition may have on students and staff. In November 2008 a provincial bottled -water ban was defeated in the legislature. Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne voted against the initiative because there are schools in the province where there is lead in the water and the province supplies bottled water to the schools. Bottled -water is also a component used to change nutritional guidelines. In a phone interview with AMDSB 's manager of communications Steve Howe, I asked if the implementation of a ban on bottled water would be a risk in our county schools that depend on well water systems and which still have lead pipes. "Our testing for lead lev- els in the water is strictly enforced in schools with lead pipes. None of our schools as tested posi- tive for lead content," said Mr. Howe. He continued by saying that if it so hap- pened that high levels of lead were detected in our schools' water, then indeed bottled water would be provided and areas exempted from the prohibition. In town the.exception to the by-law is the Maitland Recreation Centre, where they have a long standing con- tract for their vending machines that must be honoured. Many communities are still wres- tling with the issue as it applies to limiting personal choice and free markets. As with most issues there are two sides to the bottled -water ban move- ment. Environmentalists claim bottled water to be a detriment to the environ- ment as not enough people recycle the bottles, which leads, to them creating landfill issues. • There is also concern by some that when the. bottles of water sit on the shelf for long periods of time cancer- causing chemicals used to produce the plastic bottle leach out in to the water and consumed. Bottled -water companies such as Nestle, Coca-Cola, Pepsico, and Danone, see things' differently. In a letter to the editor of the Wind- sor Star (January 16th, 2009), John B, Challinor from Nestle Waters Can- ada wrote that the alleged release .of cancer-causing chemicals from plas- tic bottles into the water, is incorrect urban myth and "Health Canada says there is no scientific evidence to sup- port this concern." According to the Health Canada, regulations for bottled water are as strong and protective as municipal regulations for tap water. Environmentalists are also concerned that the large water companies take water from munici- pal acquifers and affect ground water. Not true says the Canadian Bottled -Water Association which insists that statistics taken between 2004-2005 shows that bottlers take less than two-tenths of one percent of all the water extracted from On- tario's lakes, rivers and underground streams. It is equivalent of the amount used by ten golf courses in one year. I remember clearly my Grade 10 Man and His Environment class . when experts were encouraging us to drink filtered water because the quality of the water being taken out of our lakes and treated by munici- palities was in question. The pendulum has swung in the exact opposite direction it seems. Much effort and money has gone into re-establishing drinking water standards and to boost confidence after Walkerton. It's honourable for municipalities like ours to lead by example by im- plementing practices that help build civic confidence in its services. It's .a small step, but ,it's one that moves both municipality and school board for- ward orward toward a greener community. 5,w=/9/moi{,ifs, %///!Y/i///,/// /yy/.1/.%i:%7////////i/%!i %/yMi'/yY//Ay'&!/y7 /00,04fy�y!//J//%1!47.010#//✓//./q,*,::9/!/Uiyy/y.."'Avv%!/e/A, '0'4,j / %//�/yys% �'' ' / Y}j/y/�,�i L/i/. ii.,, // .[(//ii ilii !/�i r !/! �/ /,i �1y2'ci• • �l�%y'fj��flC� ry��4 %/ii/<%!/9Y07.7.!/////.r;07"f/rYi1i:777!//.%7.0057,7,4!.f7.4tv(0,t7..d%1.4.77t7, 7777/67.07,!.•lY.7474;i0$00, 9fd(4i/!//,f!/!•4!, Photo by Denny Scott Strong Kids cam ai starts strong The YMCA launched it's provincal 2009 trong Kids Campaign with a $1,500 donation from Bell Aliant; a subsidiary of Bell that serves rural areas. Shown is Anne -Marie Thomson, Goderich YMCA Manager, accepting the cheque. Representing Bell Aliant are Jan Tebbut, sales manager; Tim Lozon, community affairs; Jim Newman, operation manager and Gary Mudow, a field service representative for the 519 area code north. Also pictured are the Edwards family, who spoke about the benefits the YMCA provides 491.11831i • r t Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, February 18, 2039 - Page A13 1K EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES SUMMER CONTRACT PARK POSITIONS FALLS RESERVE CONSERVATION AREA An Equal Opportunity Emiiloyer • The Falls Reserve Conservation Area is a campground located in Ben - miller which is owned by the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority. The following park positions are available for the 2009 summer season: Maintenance/Park Officers: (3 positions) Assist with the routine park operations; park patrol and general routine maintenance of the park:University or College education in Parks/Recre- ation, Resource Management or Law and Security. Park Natural Resources Interpreter: Responsible for planning and implementing conservation education ac- tivities and special events. University or College education in parks/recre- ation, resource management or education. Gate Attendants: (3 positions) Responsible to undertake a variety of clerical and administrative func- tions. Issue camp and day -use permits to park visitors, and collect associ- ate user fees. Concession Booth Staff. (2 positions) Concession booth operations. Prepare concession food and collect con- cession sales. Maintenance/Interpreter Assistant (Part Time) Assist the Natural Resources Interpreter with planning and implementing conservation education activities as well as assisting with routine park maintenance. Wage rate: Range from $9.50 to $12.00/hr. depending on position. Maitland Valley Conservation Authority Working for a Healthy Environment! Please forward resume by Monday, March 9, 2009 to: Jason Moir, Park Superintendent Falls Reserve Conservation Area c/o Maitland Valley Conservation Authority Box 127, 93 Marietta Street Wroxeter, Ontario NOG 2X0 Tel (519) 524-6429 Fax (519) 524-6022 email: jmoir@frca.on.ca Only those selected for interviews will be contacted. we Are Saving You Money! Buyifl on Natural and Wood Blinds OR FREE CsrlIoss on Cellular, Pleated, Metal and Roman Shades oR FIIEETSP Dswa-IsLtui Up on Cellular and Roman Sha OFFER VALID FROM FEEPUARY 18TH TO MARCH 27TH 2009 OU.)1Z custorf b & shades CALL OR COME IN FOR DETAILS Serving the Lakeshore and Beyond,.. , Call us today for a free In-home Consultation! 1111 or w. it. B.+artm 1111104111144 011111 1121 Orem SI, iase..rlrri •1,41011.I141 .a10111111.010 Sty Pot eels 11104 W10,142 Since 1994. S ASFIADEA E THE T • N