An environmental organization is hoping that Kincardine will become a Blue Community for 2026.
The Kincardine Environmental Action Network (KEAN) made a presentation to council on Wednesday, sharing the benefits of Blue Community status.
Amanda Saxton shared the importance of the change, and said “Water isn’t something that is owned by anyone, it is something we’re all responsible for and entitled to.”
She said that Blue Communities are municipalities that adopts a water commons framework, which recognizes clean water and sanitation as a human right, and a joint responsibility as the first step of the process.
“The second step would be for phase out the sale of bottled water at municipal facilities and events, and ideally restaurants and businesses in town would also follow suit, but this is based on the municipality… [the entire community] does not have to engage. We are hoping that they will, but the requirement of the Blue Community status is that the municipality has agreed to do so,” explained Saxton. “Any events that the municipality is running, there wouldn’t be any bottled water. We would be relying on filling stations, we’d be relying on Quench Buggies, things like that to provide water for people.”
Saxton suggested that the Municipality of Kincardine take the pledge to promoting publicly financed, owned, and operated water and wastewater services.
She also shared potential resolutions that could be adopted by council, particularly adding a ban on selling bottled water at municipally-owned buildings such as the Davidson Centre, or at municipal events such as the Scottish Festival, while providing access for people to fill their own reusable water bottles.
According to KEAN, banning bottled water sales is a crucial step toward achieving Blue Community status. It also promotes sustainability and safeguards public health.
Banning single-use plastic water bottles also reduces plastic waste, which can end up polluting local lakes and rivers, as well as harming marine life.
KEAN also said that encouraging tap water use not only cuts down on environmental impact, but also ensures access to clean, affordable water for all residents.
Kincardine council was not able to make a final decision at Wednesday’s meeting, but received the presentation as information.
Two of the closest Blue Communities are Bayfield, Tiny Township, and London.
The Blue Community logo (via The Council of Canadians)