Water filtration is typically seen as a more mature topic, but it's time to get youth involved. Traditionally, university and college campuses are the place to go when you want to find the latest in-thing.  Dorms and the Greek system are great spots to gauge what’s hot and new in popular culture, and college radio is how you discover new music. But ask American college students about other options for bottled water; perhaps clean, healthy water served from a water filter and you may get a blank stare in response. Hopefully, soon that’s going to change. In Canada, there’s a growing trend on university campuses to ban the sale of single-use plastic water bottles.
 
After 75% of students who participated in a March campus-wide referendum voted for the ban, Bishop’s University has become the first university in Quebec to follow in the footsteps of nine other Canadian universities and colleges that have banned or are planning to ban the sale of bottled water. This includes the University of Winnipeg, Brandon University, Queen’s University, Ryerson University, University of Ottawa, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Trent University, and Fleming College.

Last year, a group of students at Bishop’s started an initiative called “Think Global, Drink Local” to draw attention to the environmental impact of bottled water. Reasons for the ban include discarded bottles, the carbon footprint left by transporting bottled water, and the fact that each plastic bottle requires twice its volume in water to make.  The campus will also be phasing out the use of 18 water coolers, and water fountains will be upgraded to include a spout designed to fill reusable water containers.

LifeSource Water Systems is already gearing up with designs for unique water dispensers and affordable stainless steel and BPA-free reusable water bottles.  We can help any size college or university campus with an affordable, low-maintenance water filter solution.  So the only question that remains is…which American university will be the first to follow in the footsteps of their Canadian counterparts?