The Ecology Action Centre in Halifax says encouraging drinking tap water in schools makes sense financially for the school board. (Associated Press)

Some high school students are banding together to lobby the Halifax Regional School Board to remove bottled water from all its schools.

Students at Auburn Drive High School in Cole Harbour are trying to convince others at their school to drink more tap water.

Student Luke Ehler said they'll take their ideas all the way to the school board.

"Youth can have this sort of impact on the city, I guess," Ehler said. "Because this is a huge issue and for youth to address it is a big challenge for us. So if it works then it'll be a big step for us."

They've convinced their school it's more environmentally-friendly and healthier.

The high school is now a vending machine-free school, said Bernie MacEachern, the school's principal.

"We used to have them in the past, and this year we decided to take them away. Students haven't missed them very much, we have a full-service cafeteria and they order what they like to have," MacEachern said.

Jocelyne Rankin of the Ecology Action Centre said she would consider it a victory if the school board banned the bottle.

"Now we see vending machines at the expense of maintaining and investing in tap water. It's free and paid for by taxpayers, and it's far more regulated than bottled water."

All schools make their own contracts with vending machine companies, and they don't have to submit revenue numbers to the board.

Irvine Carvery, the board's chairman, told CBC News he'd like to know more about how banning bottled water would affect schools, but he's open to exploring the idea.

Students from several high schools, including Auburn Drive and Citadel High School, will present their ideas to the school board on Feb. 29.