Bottled water industry is the thin edge of water privatization Bottled water industry is the thin edge of water privatization

 United Church of Canada urges its three million members to take a

 personal stand by avoiding bottled water where possible

 Thunder Bay (22 August 2006) - The United Church of Canada is urging

 its three million members across the country to avoid bottled water as

 a way of taking a personal stand against water privatization.

 Delegates at the general church council in Thunder Bay passed a

 resolution declaring water "a sacred gift that connects all life" and

 proclaiming that  its "value to the common good must take priority over commercial

interests."

 The church put the issue on its agenda after congregations in London,

 Hamilton and Montreal expressed concern over a growing trend toward

 Private water ownership and the potential for environmental harm. Interest in

 the issue was also expressed by churches in Asia, Latin America and Africa.

 'The thin edge'

 Richard Chambers, social policy co-ordinator for the church's national

 office, said bottled water is "the thin edge" of a much larger trend Toward the

 global marketing of water by companies such as Coca-Cola (which owns Dasani) and

 Pepsi-Cola(which owns Aquafina).

 The church is not calling for a formal boycott of bottled water but it

 is asking members to avoid buying it wherever possible as a means of

 raising awareness and educating the public about the dangers of privatization.

 Safety is also an issue. Contrary to what many believe, municipal tap

 Water is often healthier than bottled water because plastic bottles break

 down over time and can leech impurities. Relying on tap water also

 avoids environmental issues associated with disposable water bottles.

 The church is urging the Canadian government to sign a United Nations

 convention recognizing water as a human right and to offer assistance

 to provinces and municipalities to upgrade water infrastructure.

 The Canadian Bottled Water Association, founded in 1992, now

 represents about 100 companies and accounts for 80% to 85% of all

 bottled water sold in Canada. The industry had an estimated $650 million in sales in Canada

 in 2003.