Water fountains making comeback as bottles banned

AFP, August, 2008

OTTAWA (AFP) — The Canadian city of London, Ontario on Wednesday halted sales of bottled water at all of its municipal facilities, heralding the return of water fountains, despite beverage industry protests.

And similar bans are being considered elsewhere in the country, say local media, including in Vancouver, Ottawa and Kitchener, amid a public backlash against the higher cost and environmental impact of bottled water.

"We were selling bottled water for 1.75 dollars per liter right next to a public drinking fountain that dispensed water for less than an eighth of a cent (per liter)," Jay Stanford, director of the city's trash and recycling programs, told AFP.

"It just didn't make sense to sell water in a bottle when it is so readily available from the tap...