Washington University in St. Louis recently announced its decision to stop selling bottled water on campus. Cornell has no intention to follow in its footsteps by discontinuing the sales of bottled water. While we support Cornell’s decision as being prudent, more steps can be taken to encourage sustainable practices, specifically in regard to water consumption on campus.

Were sales of bottled water to cease entirely, many students would likely turn to other bottled alternatives, including soda or sports drinks, which are often sugar and calorie ridden. Additionally, sales of bottled water earn a significant sum for Cornell Dining, and any bolsters to the budget are certainly not a negative. In any case, the University is still under its contract with PepsiCo, so ceasing sales is impractical.

With this in mind, Cornell does a commendable job providing recycling bins and encouraging recycling around campus. Thus, we see no inherent problem with the continued sales of bottled water across campus.

However, looking towards a sustainable future, the University should do more to promote environmentally friendly water consumption across campus. Water fountains are few and far between in buildings; they are often dysfunctional or tucked into hard-to-find corners. Additionally, a student usually has no receptacle to fill with water from a fountain.

Cornell should promote small and sustainable water bottles, such as Sigg bottles, through increased sales promotions, such as discounts, in its store. Additionally, recyclable cups — or, better yet, compostable cups — could be provided next to water fountains, particularly in locations near popular dining spots.

While providing extra cups is certainly a budget expense, its size is relatively small in comparison to the message that it would send to students: to stop relying on bottled water for their drinking needs.

Certainly such measures would only occur on campus, and would not be drastic measures toward a more sustainable world. However, small habit changes on behalf of individual students can make a huge difference — one student ceasing to purchase bottled water each day and, instead, carrying a reusable bottle can save countless plastic bottles from being wasted.

As such, it is largely in the hands of students to increase sustainable practices when it comes to drinking water on campus. Students dining in locations with soda fountains that dispense water should take advantage of the free water in lieu of buying bottled water.

With the collaborative effort of both students and the University, we can take strong strides forward in making Cornell more sustainable and promoting responsible and environmentally friendly means of water consumption.