Catholic board to look into installing water bottle filling stations

The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board took a step toward banning disposable plastic water bottles Tuesday night.

The board is investigating the feasibility of installing and maintaining water bottle filling stations in all the schools.

Kim Bouchard, trustee for Ward 6 and 7, brought forward the motion.

Bouchard said an education program will go along with the new policy once implemented. According to Bouchard, the filling stations are needed as an incentive because the students won't just refill their water bottles at sinks or drinking fountains.

"A lot of people will bring a water bottle to school and just throw it out afterwards," said Bouchard.

About 40 per cent of the schools in the board system already have the filling stations, but according to trustee Mary DiMenna, they were purchased through fundraising by parent councils.

They don't come cheap — administrators estimate they cost about $3,800 each.

"I know some schools don't have that kind of money, so maybe we can look into supplying it for them," said DiMenna.

The motion passed unanimously, with other trustees voicing support.

"We need to get involved," said trustee Tony Polifroni. "If we can afford it and it looks good I think it's the way to go."

Board chair Fulvio Valentinis agreed.

"There's a lot of enthusiasm at different schools," said  Valentinis. "It's something that's very, very welcome and we are certainly going to add to the initiatives that have been started in some schools."

Bouchard said this is a first step toward banning disposable bottles outright.

"This just seems like a good way to get us there a little bit faster."