Dear editor,
Further to the article about Cumberland’s ban on water bottling (Cumberland moves to ban water bottling businesses in village, Feb. 13), I wonder how many people have read a little book called Whose water is it anyway? by Maude Barlow, Canada’s best-known water activist.
It recounts many disastrous instances of what happens when a municipality allows its water service to be run by a private water company.
It further tells about the Blue Community Project in which a village, town, or city undertakes (1) recognize water and sanitation as human rights, (2) to operate publicly owned and financed water and sanitation services, and (3) to prohibit the sale of bottled water, at least in public facilities and municipal events. This program originated in Canada and has spread around the world.
Is there any reason why the three Comox Valley municipalities should not join this movement as Blue Communities?
Charles Van Wagner
Courtenay