Following a Blue Communities presentation from Linda Safford on behalf of local branches of the Vancouver Island Water Watch Coalition and the Council of Canadians, Cumberland council resolved Monday to move towards eliminating the sales of bottled water at concessions.
Council's decision also includes vending machines or Village facilities where tap water is available.
Coun. Kate Greening, who does not have a problem with bottled water, opposed the motion.
The coalition and council suggest bottled water represents a private takeover where corporations bottle and sell water at exorbitant rates.
The groups have also asked Cumberland and other Valley municipalities to recognize water as a human right, and to promote publicly owned and operated water and wastewater infrastructure.
Council voted in favour of the former and an amended version of the latter with wastewater removed. They resolved to lobby senior levels of government to invest in water infrastructure funding and to build new systems.
Coun. Conner Copeman opposed the resolution, which will be forwarded to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
"I believe we're going to restrict ourselves," he said.
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Dog owners are invited to an official opening of Cumberland's off-leash dog park Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Village Park.