June 7, 2011
Provincial Policy Bans Small Bottled Water Purchases by Government Offices
Government offices will no longer purchase small bottles of drinking water, following a change in policy to encourage Manitoba government departments, special operating agencies, and boards and commissions to drink tap water, Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie announced today.
“We believe by taking this step we are leading by example and encouraging Manitobans to move away from using single-use bottled water,” said Blaikie. “This also acknowledges the importance of Manitoba Sustainable Development Procurement Guidelines that clearly states purchases must be based on careful consideration of the good’s impact on the environment.”
The new policy bans the use of provincial funds to buy single-use bottled water in plastic containers with less than one litre of water when tap water that is safe for drinking is reasonably accessible. The policy includes an exception when safe drinking water is not available, for example, when forest firefighting crews in remote areas need water to drink.
The policy also encourages provincial staff who may buy bottled water with their own funds to make the best effort to avoid purchasing single-use bottled water while working in a government facility.
“The Manitoba Eco-Network is very pleased by this announcement,” said Laurel McDonald of the network. “The production, transport and recycling of single-use water bottles wastes energy and produces unnecessary carbon emissions. Today’s announcement, along with the efforts of three university campuses and several municipalities already banning the sale of bottled water, puts Manitoba on the forefront of efforts to reclaim public water and to reduce the burden of bottled water on the environment.”
“This move recognizes the impacts that plastic water bottles have on our environment and we’re hoping that more Manitobans follow suite and make this change where ever possible,” added Blaikie.
Updated information on the Manitoba Sustainable Development Procurement Guidelines is available at www.gov.mb.ca/mit/psb/green.html.
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