NEWS RELEASE
WELLINGTON WATER WATCHERS
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Launched recently, the Tap It for Good program led by the Wellington Water Watchers advocates the consumption of municipal tap water over bottled water through an engaging campaign to stymie the corporate use of public water sources and encourage more stringent oversight on this valuable resource by the Ontario government.
“Simply by posting images and videos of themselves drinking tap water and using the hashtag #TapItForGood, everyone can help raise awareness about the need to protect this precious resource,” says Arlene Slocombe Executive Director of Wellington Water Watchers.
Since launch, Tap It advocates have raised a glass of tap water and shared their support through social media posts resulting in trending of #TapitForGood across several social media platforms. The movement continues to gain momentum as the urgency grows to protect and conserve public sources of drinking water in Aberfoyle, ON with the potential renewal of a permit to pump millions of litres of water on a daily basis.
Municipal water sources and the aquifers that support them are under threat by corporate bottled water manufacturers who pay negligible fees for unlimited access and production for profit. This program aims to raise awareness and engage the public in the issues and the untold damage this process causes and the urgent need to protect our precious public water resources.
The Tap It program goal encourages the Ontario Government to end the policy of issuing permits to take water for bottling. This policy allows large corporations to effectively deplete the water resources that communities need to thrive and grow, while simultaneously creating a knock-on issue of massive environmental damage caused by the manufacture, distribution and disposal of single-use plastic water bottles which end up in public waterways and landfill.
Access to safe drinking water is a basic human right which all Canadians should enjoy. The urgency for access to clean drinking water for all is great. This campaign intends to draw attention to this need and recognizes the inequities that continue to exist in many First Nations communities that do not have access to clean water resources including those residing in close proximity to the Aberfoyle plant.
Stay tuned for part two which will engage secondary school students in a #TapItForHours program.
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