I agree with extending the…

I agree with extending the moratorium on water bottling permits in order to study the effects on our water resources and ecosystems. I strongly disagree with concept and practice of water taking for the use of bottled water, especially single use bottled water.

Water is a public commons and should be seen as such by our government. We need this resource protected for the public today and for future generations. The ON government has been essentially 'giving away' water over the decades to water bottling plants - the price charged being so small as to barely register as a charge. As such, the Ontario people have been shouldering this cost and I don't believe that it is worth the few jobs created to continue this practice.

Most people today are becoming aware of not only the importance of preserving our water resources, but also limiting our use of disposable plastics. Water bottling companies take very little responsibility for recycling plastics - this is left to municipalities as a significant cost and many plastic bottles end up in landfill or in our waterways.

I hope the scientific studies over the coming year will show that water taking for the purposes of bottled water is no longer sustainable in our world today. We can no longer afford this practice for 'convenience' sake.