OP/ED: Nestle Waters takes issue with Atamanenko's bottled-water stance

by Contributor on 23 Dec 2011
in
OP/ED: Nestle Waters takes issue with Atamanenko's bottled-water stance

I read with interest the article that appeared in the December 9, 2011, edition of The Castlegar Source entitled, “MP wants bottled water banned.”

In the piece, BC South Interior MP Alex Atamanenko based his recent statement about bottled water in the House of Commons on information that has long been confirmed as false — mythology one typically finds on anti-bottled water activists’ websites or in circulars published by the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace.
 
The federal government purchases bottled water for use by, for example, our armed forces worldwide; those government employees who work in remote locations or in older buildings where lead contamination is present; and native and other populations in Canada’s north and elsewhere across the country where there is no potable water. Last year, there were 1,500 boil-water advisories nation-wide.
 
Contrary to Mr. Atamanenko’s comments, the recovery rate for plastic beverage containers averaged almost 80 per cent in B.C. last year, according to industry steward Encorp Pacific (www.return-it.ca). The diversion rate was almost 70 per cent nationally last year. The beverage industry is working with governments and consumers across Canada to improve these recycling rates through new and innovative recycling practices like public spaces recycling. For example, a pilot program just concluded in Richmond.
 
Further, the Province of Nova Scotia has not banned the sale of bottled water in its facilities, as a letter from the Government to me will attest. A copy has been filed with the editor of The Castlegar Source.
 
If Mr. Atamanenko, local Catholic development and peace chairman Barry Nelson and others wish to protect this valuable resource for future generations, they should give consideration to calling on government at all levels to make water and sewer infrastructure development and maintenance a priority; make residential, commercial, and industrial water takers pay their fair share of the real cost of water consumption; address the inefficient use of water by municipalities, agriculture, and industries; and require treatment of wastewater before it is returned to rivers, lakes, and oceans.
 
Sincerely,
 
John B. Challinor II APR
Director of Corporate Affairs
Nestlé Waters Canada

Comments

Bla Bla Bla

by JoeHadenough10 on 13 Jan 2012 at about 00:02.
J.C.’s arrogance and contempt for municipal water supply is despicable. They say they are not in competition with tap water but always bringing up not so subtle reasons why it is unfit to drink. Also cook up unheard of “facts” their use of water, how many of their toxic plastic bottles get recycled and boil water scares. If you twist off one of their plastic caps and didn’t do a surgical scrub before the chore you might deposit germs from the last door knob you touched, banister you touched, hand you shook or butt you wiped on those threads where you will put your mouth. Oh the bottle water will test ok and never create a statistic about the safety of bottle water but the practice of opening the bottle is now in question. Also Nestle cost $28.98 for 15 gals waters or you can get 14490 gals water from the tap for the same price! Who do you want to support your wallet or Nestle? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXTOo6CjfZI

Well, the United Church of

by Keith Simmonds on 29 Dec 2011 at about 11:17.
Well, the United Church of Canada has banned bottled water use in all it's official gatherings. It's interesting to read Nestle's call for government to reform water use and treatment too. So refreshing after all I've read about their labour standards and the ethics of their worldwide operations in areas like water use, baby formula and so on. A quick google of 'Nestle boycott' might provide more grist for your mills...