Clean the Sky – Water Bottle Factory Closures

Water bottle factory BlueTriton’s closure in Ontario marks a significant victory for environmental and Indigenous advocacy groups that have long pushed back against bottled water extraction and plastic waste. The company’s exit comes after years of public resistance to its high-volume groundwater extraction in Aberfoyle. It raises important questions about water justice, especially as many residents and Indigenous communities still lack reliable access to clean drinking water.

Grassroots organizations like Wellington Water Watchers and Save Our Water and Indigenous leaders from the Six Nations of the Grand River played a crucial role in reshaping public opinion and policy. Their combined efforts helped pressure the Ontario government to implement tighter regulations, including a moratorium on new extraction permits and policies that gave communities veto power. These actions effectively halted BlueTriton’s expansion, prompting the company’s eventual withdrawal from the region.

Beyond Ontario, this development reflects a growing global movement to reduce dependence on single-use plastics and recognize water as a shared public resource.

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