bottled-water.jpg
The only place you'll find water on the Seattle University campus is the sink. (AP photo/file)

Seattle University bans bottled water

October 14, 2010 @ 3:38 pm (Updated: 1:37 pm - 3/28/11 )

By ALEX SILVERMAN
KIRO Radio

Some schools have banned junk food or soda, but one local university says no to bottled water.

The only place you'll find water on the Seattle University campus is the sink.

"It started a few years ago with several students who approached the university administration," explained Seattle University spokesman Casey Corr.

Corr said the university realized the energy used to make those plastic bottles is a waste and Seattle water is fine to drink.

He said Seattle University is the first in Washington state and one of just a handful nationwide to ban bottled water.

"Our Facebook account just lit up with praise from students and alumni and even students from other campuses from around the country," said Corr.

Follow Alex on Twitter @AlexSilverman.

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Comments (12)


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  • Rick (4) wrote...
    Update:
    October 14, 2010 2:42 pm
    The only place you'll find water on the Seattle University campus is the sink, and bottled water in the teacher lounge/offices.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Randy from Woodinville wrote...
    Americans with Disabilities Act infraction!
    October 14, 2010 2:56 pm
    For some of us re-using the same bottle over and over again can become a health problem. What about us? Those steel and BPA-Free bottles can be very difficult to clean. Safety & portability make bottled water a much better choice. As a member of a protected class I demand that they sell bottled water on campus! (heh! That should get them riled up- One Liberal cause against another. but my concern is true and valid)
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  • whispurr wrote...
    Oh yeah?
    October 14, 2010 3:02 pm
    And what are they going to do to me if I walk around on the campus with a bottled of water? And what about bottled soda and energy drinks? Someone needs to slap those out of their hands too. Can't have any hypocrisy on campus.

    Seattle is the most ridiculous city I've ever heard of. I won't go near it except to pass through on I-5. And I was born there!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Nervoso wrote...
    Good,
    October 14, 2010 3:40 pm
    and stay out.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NoElephants wrote...
    Good, stay out
    October 14, 2010 4:08 pm
    We don't like people that are so stupid they would actually think a wasteful practice is a good idea, and that stopping it is tantamount to tyranny. Stay in Pierce or Snohomish or whatever hell hole you reside and leave us alone please.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • roomtemp wrote...
    "The only place you'll find water on the Seattle University campus is the sink. "
    October 14, 2010 4:08 pm
    That's fine. You won't mind me taking the sink with me then. Though it is kinda heavy and the plumbing doesn't stretch too far...

    How about you set up filtered water station and sell stainless or plastic bottles to put it in? Nah, lets just ban bottled water (of all things).

    I think the plastic is a waste too. But my answer to that is using a gatorade or some such plastic bottle over again until I wear it out. A little bleach and a rinse and they work just like new...

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • whispurr wrote...
    I will....
    October 14, 2010 4:21 pm
    However, I don't drink bottled water. I just don't like people telling me what I can and can't do. Bottled water is a waste of money since it's generally just tap water. I do think it's healthier to drink bottled water than bottled soda though, and that comes in plastic bottles too. To just ban the bottled water is ridiculous. My reasons for staying out of Seattle are many. But if I HAVE to go there, I'll be sure to take a bottle of water with me and leave it there, just for you Nervoso and NoElephants. ;)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shoknawe wrote...
    oh please
    October 14, 2010 7:17 pm
    And who is going to enforce that? What a joke.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Casey Corr wrote...
    Clarification on water options at Seattle University
    October 15, 2010 7:54 am
    Thanks, Alex, for covering our water-bottle initiative at Seattle University that has received a great response from our campus community and people at different universities. One important clarification: you don't have to head for a sink for your water. We're encouraging the use of reusable bottles, not to mention the many drinking fountains around campus. The university has partnered with Corporate Accountability International to provide discounted reusable water bottles on campus. A portion of sales benefit the efforts of the university’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) to provide clean tap water to the people of Haiti. You can learn more about the partnership with Corporate Accountability International at http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/press-release-seattle-university-goes-bottled-water-free To learn how students brought this issue forward, please visit http://www.seattleu.edu./commons/article.aspx?id=64610 Thanks again to Alex for his story on Seattle U's focus on sustainability programs. Casey Corr Seattle University
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • A Man Watching wrote...
    Ban bottled water?
    October 15, 2010 8:04 am
    Seattle water is safe to drink? Oh really? tell that to the seattle public school kids that are forbidden to drink from the water fountains because of the trace metals found there, water coolers had to be installed so that the children could have safe water. Sure, that's do to old rusty pipes that the thoughtful city forgot to maintain, but how many other pipes has the city forgotten? Washington state also has one of the highest levels of arsenic in its drinking water, sure not a problem it is within safe levels. Or is it? Arsenic never leaves your body, it accumulates to toxi levels and then kills you. Meanwhile, the do gooders at Seattle U will continue to tweet each other about their great progressiveness mindless of the energy it takes to charge those phones their parents provide them with.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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