Next Wednesday, January 28, the city's operations committee will be considering whether to recommend making Owen Sound a blue community.

Becoming a blue community means:

1. recognizing water as a human right – following in the steps of the United Nations and the Canadian government

2. promoting publicly financed, owned, and operated water & wastewater services

3. phasing out bottled water in public facilities and events

The community of Owen Sound has shown significant support for these principles, and that support continues to grow. "We would like to see Owen Sound confirm these three principles by designating itself as a "blue community," says Water Watch Committee chair Liz Zetlin, "This would show the city is taking a serious role in environmental protection and, as stated in the city's strategic plan document, 'plan policies that protect and encourage long term sustainability of our natural environment.' One of the measures of success of this goal is water quality."

Owen Sound would join 15 other blue communities in Canada, including nine around the Great Lakes. Owen Sound already spends millions to operate our water/wastewater systems, and delivers a top-quality potable water product. Why wouldn't any one of us give these systems a vote of confidence? The blue communities initiative would put in place policies that protect this crucial resource for future generations and ensure public access to water, especially when there will be more and more pressure on our water supply.

Considering the importance of water, it should belong to no one, and be the responsibility of everyone. Being central to human activity and survival, it must be governed by principles that allow for reasonable use, equal distribution, and responsible treatment in order to preserve it for nature, and for future generations. The Staff Report going to the January 28 operations committee meeting does not recommend adopting any of the blue community proposals.

To follow this project through the committee-to-council procedure, come to Owen Sounds' council chambers on Wed. Jan.28 starting at 4:30 pm., where presentations will be made to the operations advisory committee of Owen Sound. The meeting was originally to be held in the basement boardroom of the operations committee, but the venue was changed to council chambers to accommodate our growing number of supporters.

for more information: Liz Zetlin, 226-664-0088, [email protected]

http://www.canadians.org/bluecommunities

Source - Owen Sound Water Watchers Committee