12 Apr 2018

Ecan not doing due diligence on water bottling - campaigner

7:22 pm on 12 April 2018

The Canterbury Regional Council (Ecan) is being accused of not doing due diligence before granting consents for water bottling.

water bottling

Photo: 123 RF

Aotearoa Water Action has filed legal proceedings against Ecan in an effort to overturn consents that allow two companies to draw about 24 million litres of water a day from bores in the north of the city.

A petition on the issue has gained almost 112,000 signatures.

Petition organiser Genevieve Robinson spoke to the Christchurch City Council today to raise awareness about their campaign.

Ms Robinson said the regional council had not done its job properly and does not understand the impact bottling would have on the environment.

"They haven't done the ground work involved that is necessary for the operation," she said.

"Twenty four million litres per day is just a gross overkill ... the environmental damage - the plastic is an extra one."

Ms Robinson said she would present her petition to the regional council later this month.

Ecan has been approached for comment.

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