York University is a Blue Community. We recognize water and sanitation as human rights, support public water services, and take action to reduce single-use plastic, strengthen water stewardship and advance equitable access to water.
Learn more about the Blue Communities Project
Water as a shared resource
York University is proud to be recognized as a Blue Community. This designation reflects our commitment to treating water as a shared resource and public good, not a commodity, and to advancing water justice, conservation and sustainable water management across our campuses and communities.
York received its Blue Community designation on October 8, 2024, at a special event featuring water advocate Maude Barlow and Council of Canadians chairperson John Cartwright.
As a Blue Community, York affirms that safe, clean and affordable water and sanitation are human rights. We also recognize that healthy watersheds, freshwater systems and oceans are essential to community well-being, biodiversity and climate resilience.
Read the Council of Canadians announcement | Read the YFile story
What being a Blue Community means
The Blue Communities Project encourages organizations to adopt a water-commons framework: water belongs to everyone, and protecting it is a shared responsibility.
Through this designation, we are advancing:
- Recognizing water and sanitation as human rights.
- Supporting publicly financed, owned and operated water and wastewater services.
- Reducing the sale and use of bottled water where safe tap water is available.
- Expanding access to tap water through fountains and refill stations.
- Educating the York community on water rights, conservation and plastic reduction.
- Supporting research, learning and community engagement on water sustainability.
Water as a human right: reducing single-use plastic
A central action of York’s Blue Community commitment is reducing reliance on single-use plastic water bottles while strengthening access to safe, free drinking water across our campuses.
York’s bottled water policy supports the transition away from the sale of bottled water in University-managed facilities and at University events where safe tap water is available. By prioritizing tap water and refillable bottles, York is reducing plastic waste, lowering avoidable carbon emissions and reinforcing the principle that clean drinking water should be accessible as a public good.
Access to water is also a matter of equity. Safe, affordable drinking water is essential to health, dignity, learning and participation in campus life. York’s Blue Community commitment recognizes water and sanitation as human rights and supports public water systems that prioritize community well-being over profit.
Learn more about York’s bottled water phase-out
Water research and action at York
York’s Blue Community designation builds on a strong foundation of water-focused research, education and campus action. Through interdisciplinary research, community partnerships and global training initiatives, York is working to understand water challenges and develop practical solutions.
Sustainability Water Working Group
The Sustainability Water Working Group advances campus water stewardship by exploring nature-based and infrastructure solutions that protect watersheds, reduce stormwater runoff and support more resilient campuses. Its work includes “sponge campus” approaches that help optimize the reuse of stormwater on the Keele Campus. Learn more about the working groups
One Water
One Water is York University’s interdisciplinary research hub for water sustainability. It connects research, education and partnerships to develop solutions to pressing water challenges in Canada and globally, while training the next generation of water leaders. Learn more about One Water
Global Water Academy
The Global Water Academy at York University, developed with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), provides accessible education and training on water sustainability, climate resilience, governance and equitable access to water. Its free online courses and global networks connect learners with practical knowledge and community-centred solutions. Learn more about the Global Water Academy
Join the movement
Every member of the York community can contribute to a Blue Community:
- Carry a reusable water bottle.
- Use campus water refill stations.
- Learn about water justice, Indigenous water relationships and watershed health.
- Participate in sustainability initiatives and water-focused research.
- Support public water systems and responsible water use.
York University’s Blue Community designation reflects our responsibility to protect water as a shared resource and to help build a more just, sustainable and water-secure future. Through campus action, research, education and global partnership, York is working to ensure that water is protected for people, communities and ecosystems, today and for generations to come.
Related Sustainable Development Goals
York’s Blue Community commitments support SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 14: Life Below Water.