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Registered Student Organization aims to end bottled water sales

By Odille Parker on October 29, 2010 2:45 am in Student Groups / 4 comments

 

Sam Schleich wants to show students drinking water doesn’t need to come in little plastic bottles.

The Illinois senior is president of Take Back the Tap, a new registered student organization started on campus after an internship she had with Food and Water Watch in Chicago. Schleich wanted to stay involved in the company’s efforts to providing safe and affordable water for everyone.

With two Nestle nearby, both of which distribute bottled water, Central Michigan University was the perfect place to begin, she said.

“It is important to bring the fight to where it’s happening, and college campuses are where change begins,” Schleich said.

The ultimate goal of the RSO, which is part of a nationwide movement, is to eliminate the sale of bottled water at CMU. Schleich said they are not only harmful to the environment and people’s health, but they also take away sources of water from those who need it.

“If anything, we want to educate CMU students of the benefits of tap water and the risks behind bottled water,” Scleich said. “There is no good reason to have bottled water on campus.”

Krista Testolin, an Iron Mountain freshman, is a member of Take Back and feels passionately about helping the environment. She said water bottle production lacks regulation, which leads to issues in health and various ecosystems.

“We want to raise awareness and get the word out there about our cause,” Testolin said. “It may seem like a small step in the grand scheme of things, but eliminating water bottles would make a huge impact.”

Some students across campus are beginning to support the idea out of economic as well as ecological concerns.

Dustin Goncharoff said it takes relatively little effort to help the cause. The Dearborn junior uses a CamelBak, a refillable backpack with attached straw used to store drinking water.

“The water we get from the tap is reasonably good, and there is no need to waste money and effort on bottled water,” Goncharoff said.

Erika Schrand, a sophomore from Avoca, said she was enthused by the RSO’s efforts.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Schrand said. “Water bottles are so unnecessary and they usually end up in the garbage anyway.”

Take Back the Tap will screen “Tapped,” a documentary focused on the water bottle industry, at 7 p.m. in Pearce Hall 127 on Nov. 8.

 

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  • IrishMI1

    I lived in South Lyon, MI for 8 years, and HAD to drink bottled water (usually the 2 1/2 gallon jugs), due to water softeners in the drinking water. I couldn't even have house plants because the salt in the water would kill them. When I finally moved to a place that didn't have hard water, I couldn't wait to be able to drink water from the tap. I haven't bought bottled water since and the tap water tastes so much better. I think bottled water, in the small bottles, is a big rip-off, to begin with…someone, somewhere is probably just filling those bottles with tap water anyway, and the gullible population that buys them are getting what they deserve. But, if they must buy them, they should also have to pay a deposit, just like pop bottles, and be made to return them for a refund so they can be recycled.

  • Barb2ford

    oh give me a break..what's next………….

  • bullonwallst

    I have mixed views.I am big on water and only drink water out of my sigg water bottle for the most part, but I do on occasion buy a bottled water at a gas station when on my motorcycle (since my bottle does not fit in my bike). I also think that we need to keep water from at the schools, but get rid of all energy drinks and soda pop! This is the stuff that needs to be taken out of our school, work places, and everywhere
    I know this is a huge problem with all the plastic being used and all I have to say is AT LEAST RECYCLE IT. I see so many people not recycling these days and it's a shame. I have been recycling since the mid 90's on a regular basis and I am only in my late 20's now. I only have a couple bags of trash a week going to the curb, but 2 recycle bins full of stuff.

    I think they should put a refund on them just like pop cans.

  • Reiley

    That's a little extreme. Personally I prefer home filtered water, you can have tap water. We do need regulations on what chemicals can be used in plastic food/beverage containers. But banning them is extreme.

    But all beverage, including water, bottles less then 2 liters should carry a deposit nationwide.