Smiths Falls Bottled Water
Meredith Brown - Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Selling out? Aquablue Inc. to export local water for profit 
There’s trouble on-tap in Smiths Falls. On June 1, 2009 Aquablue Spring Water International announced plans to move in to the former Hershey Canada plant, with the intention of bottling municipal water for foreign export. The news came as a relief to some after the community of 10,000 suffered a series of devastating economic losses; the closure of the Hershey plant, the forced shut down of a local health facility, and downsizing in the packaging/paper industry. Thanks to a positively spun press conference, the promise of new jobs and creation of a “major (local) industry” many are singing praises – even the Mayor is on record as “delighted”. So what’s the big deal? It’s hard to know where to begin …
The opening of this bottled water plant should be raising alarm bells
According to research from the Polaris Institute, an advocate for municipal tap water, Aquablue and its partners focus on exporting to foreign markets including the Middle East, China and India. Water is arguably our most valuable resource. Canadian municipalities are already facing water shortages and the predictions for future domestic water resources are gloomy. Canadian watersheds are supposed to be protected by federal and provincial prohibitions against transferring water out of a water basin. The Ontario Water Resources Act states that “no person shall take water from a water basin if the water is to be transferred out of the water basin”. So how can Aquablue cash in on bottling up and shipping out our tap water? Our federal and provincial regulations have worrisome loop holes, including exceptions to allow the export of water packaged in containers of 20 litres or less. It’s reported that Aquablue will take an estimated 340 million litres of water per year from the local municipal water system which draws water from the Rideau River. We didn’t need to take out our calculators to figure out that 340 million litres of water in 1 litre increments, is still 340 million litres of water.
Our laws give big industry the green light to turn blue into gold
In an alternate business plan that’s as equally mind blowing, Aquablue has proposed providing schools with “water dispensing stations”. In an effort to appeal to a more environmentally mindful public, Aquablue will supply tap water to students who PAY FOR IT and bring their own reusable water containers. Imagine sending your child to school with money for tap water! Even the idea of it makes me shake my head. So why would Aquablue invest in such a bizarre strategy? It’s a marketing ploy to get bottled water companies back into schools, where they’ve already been banned – for good cause.
Taking massive amounts of water out of the Rideau River and shipping it overseas is a water diversion project in my dictionary. Diversions have ecological, cultural, social, and economic impacts that cannot be avoided or remedied. In the late summer when the river is at low flow conditions, how will the proposed water taking impact the river’s ecology or the community’s ability to water gardens? Unfortunately we will never know because environmental assessments are not required to assess the impact of drawing so much water from the river. Aquablue will use municipal tap water and the municipality has already been granted permits to take that water. In previous years the Hershey factory used similar amounts of water, however the water was returned to the river via the wastewater treatment plant.
Bottled water is one of the most needlessly wasteful products of our times
In the name of corporate financial gain, Aquablue will consume valuable Canadian resources (including water and energy), produce harmful emissions and distribute millions of bottles made from toxic chemicals, known to be recycled only 30% of the time (in countries with recycling programs). Canadians are increasingly saying “no” to bottled water, because of supported scientific findings on the negative human health and environmental impacts. Bottled water sales are down for the first time in over a decade and municipalities, businesses and schools are imposing bans on the sale of the product in their facilities. So, why is Aquablue giving false hope about a dying industry to a town desperate to restore their community and livelihood? Why will they draw valuable water and energy resources from the same community? Why have they sought out legal loopholes in legislation that’s designed to protect our domestic water supplies? PROFITS.
We can not turn a blind eye to big business, putting our environment and our future at risk
Our communities have a right to know the facts. To date, this process has moved forward without appropriate public consultation or scientific investigation. In addition, there is no long-term plan to monitor the effects of Aquablue’s proposed business. Without public consultation, information sharing and better transparency the public will have little-to-no access to important data, including how much water Aquablue takes from the watershed, and the subsequent environmental impacts.
The consequences of taking massive amounts of municipal water for bottled water production are significant, and should not be overshadowed by the excitement of short-term stimulus. It’s in everyone’s best interests to fully understand the consequences and to develop a more sustainable plan. The people of Smiths Falls must rally together to take an honest look at how the bottled water industry will benefit them. What are the local impacts? How will the watershed be affected? And what about the communities who will ultimately pay for the bottled water, and must deal with the waste and the impending privatization of their local water resources?
Ottawa Riverkeeper is launching a campaign to call for a public forum on the issue to bring fact based information to the table, and to assess what’s truly in the best interests of residents, the watershed and surrounding ecosystems. We will continue to work collaboratively with concerned citizens, businesses, politicians and environmental groups. In addition, we will advocate for responsible decision-making that includes public participation, access to information, and compliance with protective regulations, for the sake of our environment our communities and our future.
Sincerely,
Meredith Brown, Executive Director and Ottawa Riverkeeper
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