Water Refill Stations - New Wave of the Future | Eliminate Plastic Water Bottles
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Bundanoon, New South Wales, Australia
Timeline of the Wave of the Ban of Bottled Water
2005 Paris, France actively markets its tap water.
Dec 2008 Toronto, Canada is the largest city in the world to ban bottled water.
Sept 2009 Bondanoon, Australia is the first in the world to offer free municipal "filler up" stations.
May 3, 2010 Concord, MA, United States bans bottled water.
May 5, 2010 Ruptured water main cuts the supply of potable water to about 2 million people in the Boston area.
Waste Aware - A New Product That Eliminates Plastic Bottles
"Americans spent more money last year on bottled water than on ipods or movie tickets: $15 Billion."1
And here are a couple of important facts from our friends in Australia:
"• Over 400,000 barrels of oil is used per year in Australia to manufacture the plastic to make the bottles
• Out of all plastic bottles only about 30% are recycled
• Tap water costs 1 cent per litre compared to bottled water which costs $2.53 per litre
• It takes seven litres of water to make a one litre water bottle
• There are 200 billion litres of bottled water consumed worldwide with an estimate of $100 billion dollars"2
The Various Cities in Perspective
Concord, MA, United States of America
The City of Concord, near Boston had a 2000 estimated population of 17,000. While small in size Wikipedia noted that Concord is noted for its leading roles in both American history and literature and we can add municipal ordinances and water management.
Toronto Canada
Toronto Canada with over 2.5 million residents, it is the fifth most populous municipality in North America.
Bundanoon, Australia
In 2006, Bundanoon had a population of 2,035 people. Bundanoon is an Aboriginal name meaning "place of deep gullies". Bundanoon is colloquially known as Bundy / Bundi.
New York City, New York, United States of America
The City of New York located in the state of New York which is commonly referred to as New York City or NYC is the most populous city in the United States. NYC's 2008 estimated population exceeded 8.3 million. NYC is located on a large natural harbor on the Atlantic coast of the Northeastern United States.
Paris, France
The city of Paris has an estimated population of 2,203,817 (January 2006), is located on the River Seine and is the largest city in France. Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and the Paris region receives 45 million tourists annually.
Marketing Campaigns Around the World
From North America (Boston and Toronto) to Australia and to even Great Britain, the cry from citizens to be more environmentally conscious is being heard and enacted upon by local authorities.
They began their campaign with intentions to educate the public, in part by clarifying misconceptions about the virtues of bottled water that they believe thirty years of product marketing have created and sustained. “Typically, people who drink
Australian Municipal Tap Water Marketing
“Bundy on Tap” marketing campaign from Bundanoon, New South Wales, Australia
United Sates Municipal Tap Water Marketing
“Think Outside the Bottle” marketing campaign from the Corporate Accountability International, Boston, MA, USA
"Tap It" marketing campaign
"Think Global, Drink Local” New York City
“What’s Tappening?” New York City To make tap water cool again.
Europeon Municipal Tap Water Marketing
"London On Tap"
London On Tap launched in February 2008 aims to give Londoners the confidence to ask for tap water as an alternative to pricier, less green bottled brands while out for a meal or a drink by promoting Thames tap water's quality, which is the best of any UK water and sewerage firm, according to official figures published last week.
Private Sector Commercial Tap Water Marketing
"P.W.S."
PepsiCo's Aquafina Public Water Supply - P.W.S.
Water ReFill Stations – The Wave of the Future
Subject: The banning of bottled water along with the promotion and marketing of tap water and the benefits of point of use water filtration systems.
Bundanoon and Toronto were the first, London soon followed and now a progressive town called Concord near Boston, Massachusetts is taking a stand. There is a new citizenship emerging from Australia to Canada to Great Britain and now the United States. A concerned citizenship for both frugality and the environment. Campaigns, such as “Think Outside of the Bottle” and “Bundy on Tap” have targeted their citizens in an effort to educate them about the environment, tap water and the unnecessary expense of bottled water. Terms, such as the "new smokers'" to "unnecessary fad", in combination with other educational training and now new drinking fountains - fountains that double as water “filling stations” have emerged. And many of these marketing campaigns are joined with municipal ordinances to ban bottled water. Are "water refill stations" a wave of the future? Will there be a free "water refill station” near you?
"More than 100 municipalities in the United States have sought to reduce consumption of bottled water, but industry advocates said they are unaware of any other town that has taken such strong action (speaking of Toronto Canada) against the sale of bottled water. Last year, sales totaled $10.6 billion for 8.5 billion gallons nationwide, according to the Beverage Marketing Corp., a New York-based industry group."5
From a tiny town in New South Wales, Australia called Bundanoon (a town of approximately 2,500 people and 100 miles south of Australia) and with support from Jon Dee, a Bundanoon resident, who actively promoted the city’s tap water with the marketing slogan of “Bundy on Tap” to
Marketing campaigns to promote tap water from “Bundy on Tap” (a water campaign in Bundanoon Australian a town of 2,500, about 100 miles south of Sydney.) to “Think Outside the Bottle” are changing the way we view our water source and also how we live.
Canada's Municipal Leaders
Access to public drinking fountains is an important topic for world leaders. Promoting tap water and educating citizens about the complexity of delivering potable tap water are essential functions for informed decisions.
"Increasingly across Canada, municipal leaders are showing that there is a strong political will for reinvestments in public water services. However, access to municipal drinking water is dwindling with new buildings constructed without water fountains and older ones decommissioning existing fountains. Now is the time to issue strong calls to all levels of government for greater public access to free potable water and a wholesale reinvestment in water infrastructure and services..."
"Toronto is now the largest city in the world to pass such far-reaching regulations controlling the distribution of bottled water on municipal property and promoting the use of publicly delivered tap water. Other Canadian and American municipalities have enacted policies encouraging the consumption of tap water and limiting the distribution of bottled water using taxpayer money, but none as large as Toronto has taken such a comprehensive approach."4
New York City - Over 100 Free Water Refill Stations
New York City, NY, United States has installed over 100 free tap water refill stations.
Water Refill Stations - The First in the World
Bundanoon was perhaps the first to offer free to the public "water refill stations" complete with filtered and cooled public drinking water. Toronto was the first large city to ban bottled water. And Paris was the first to actively start marketing its tap water back in 2005! The little town of Bundanoon takes the lead for both innovation, frugality and full implementation.
Bundanoon has three filler stations in its town of 2,500 in addition to the station over at the primary school. The free stations compliment the municipal code within the village of Bundanoon which only allows refillable water bottles to be sold.
The name "Bundanoon" is derived from an Aboriginal name meaning "place of deep gullies". A gully is a deep channel cut in the earth by running water after a prolonged downpour. Bundanoon like all of Australia is pristine in its beauty and houses some of the world's finest water.
Quench your thirst the Berkeley Way
Hydration stations can also be found on the campus in Berkley, California where students can fill up their water bottles touch free. No need to turn a faucet on - the motion detection does it for you.
Drinking Fountain Retrofit Systems
Elkay, the world's largest drinking fountain and cooler company, has launched an exciting new product that provides for a simply retrofit of any drinking fountain that includes:
- higher refill flow rates (which means less waiting in line to refill)
- filtered water (offering the best tasting water that is also safe) and
- hands-free (no faucet, the filling station is activated by the pressure of the water bottle).
Point of Use Water Filtration System
The point of use water filtration systems provide for the safest and best tasting drinking water. Water distribution systems use chlorine in order to combat potentially harmful bacteria that may linger in the distribution or service lines. Often the bacteria enters the system from small leaks or breaks in the service line right in front of your home and or business. While chlorine is the safe, the taste is not preferable. The point of use water filtration system removes the chlorine to provide the test tasting water.
There are a number of new point of use water filtration systems that also provide residual disinfection through the use of ozonated water combined with filtered water which is concisely called layered ozonated water. In place of the bulky ozone generators, layered ozonated water delivers water filtration system with water purification.
Plastic-Free Pledge is Spreading
Citizens from around the world are thinking and taking action! They are learning about water quality, they are learning about the environment and they are getting involved. Promoting tap water through advertising campaigns or through more aggressive measures such as the ban on bottled water is a growing trend which may be in your home town soon.
In the midst of all of this celebration of tap water Pepsi Cola has also jumped on the elite bandwagon of "tap water is cool".
Pepsi's UTurn for Marketing Celebrates Public Water Source
Aquafina®, the trade name for PepsiCo's bottled water is even changing its marketing. Aquafina is filtered and now Pepsi is joining the brigade that tap water is cool by labelling their bottled water as P.W.W. (Public Water Source). Wikipedia reports:
"As of July 27, 2007, PepsiCo put a disclaimer stating the water comes from a "public source" on each bottle. Aquafina uses the term "Purified Drinking Water" on its label. In Canada, the current 1.5 L bottle of water displays "Demineralized Treated Water". Michelle Naughton, a Pepsi-Cola North America spokeswoman said, "If this helps clarify the fact that the water originates from public sources, then it's a reasonable thing to do." Their newest development is called the Eco-Fina Bottle; it uses 50% less plastic than their 2002 bottle. Aquafina will now save 75 million pounds of plastic each year." wikipedia.com
Boil Orders and Boston, Massachusetts
As Boston residents have learned the hard way, the campaign to promote tap water may be better served on a more positive basis rather than banning bottled water. Literally 48 hours after Concord Massachusetts banned bottled water, their neighboring community issued a boil order due to a main break.
The quality of tap water is excellent in the United States, however, the fact remains that water mains break, service lines leak and the stability of the distribution system can and will impair the quality of the community's water supply. This has nothing to do with the hard work of the water production and water distribution team members. This is the simply the environment and the complexity of delivering potable water. Understanding the complexity of the systems involved, understanding the potential harm from bacteria is an important task for all citizens to fully understand.
Promoting Tap Water
Water Bottle Refill Station in NYC
Hydration Station in Berkley CA
Berkely Hydration Station
Ban Plastic Bottles
Point of Use and Plastic-Free Pledge
The Montreal Protocol was an international treaty signed in 1987 and denoted the first global unified effort to thwart the Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs that harm the earth precious ozone layer that protects us from UVA harmful rays.
Citizen stewardship around the world is gaining momentum and the understanding of the preciousness of our water resource in addition to the reduction of the CFCs that harm our environment.
CFCs and Our Environment
CFCs or chlorofluorocarbons are a
family of chemical compounds developed as a non-toxic,
non-flammable alternative to dangerous substances such as ammonia for
purposes of
refrigeration and spray can propellants. CFCs usage grew as the industrial nations grew. An elements in CFCs is chlorine. Our atmosphere has very little natural chlorine. Scientists have discovered that CFCs introduced in the upper atmosphere harms the helpful ozone layer. Chlorine has the potential to destroy large amounts of
ozone.
This has been a major concern especially in the region of our earth over the Antarctica. When the protective ozone layer in our atmosphere breaks down, the earth is exposed to higher harmful UVA rays. In 1987 the Montreal Protocol was established for the reduction worldwide of the harmful CFCs.
Why Point-of-Use Filtration?
Point of use water filtration offers the best of three worlds - frugal, kind to the environment and the best tasting drinking water.
Health First
Reducing CFCs, saving money are all great motives, however, health must always be our first priority.
Installing free water refill stations makes the most sense for the use of both environmentally and financially if it includes a state-of-the-art water filter to reduce chlorine, lead and other possible contaminants. Municipal governments and other community water supplies deliver the very best supply of water but the quality of that water is dependent upon their hard work and the stability of the piping and distribution system.
As Boston area residents are very well aware, boil orders shine a spotlight on the need for filtration and bacteria fighting tools that only point-of-use systems can provide. After all, water is the thread that weaves through the entire world.
Outdoor Bottle Filling Station
Municipal and Park Options - Outdoor Bottle Filling Stations
An outdoor filling station is now made available from a company called Elkay. Check out the modern design that will compliment any municipal setting.
Outdoor Bottle Filling Station
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Share Your Thoughts
Do You Think Your City Needs an Outdoor Bottle Filling Station?
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Fantastic hub, looking forward to come back and see your new posts. Thank you.
My art gallery http://www.karoline-art.com
jamila sahar,
The great news is the USA now has this available. I will add photos to showcase the new invention brought to us by Elkay.
Elkay manufactures in the hometown of my first husband. He sadly died from pancreatic cancer many years ago. I remember his grief in not being closer to his family and having to move away from lack of jobs.
I am a huge promoter of anything locally made. Buying from your local country creates much needed jobs.
Americans need to pay attention where something is made and spend their money wisely. The lack of jobs is something our children and grandchildren cannot afford. We must make the next generation stronger and starting with learning the location of the factory, the location of the headquarters I feel is critical.
I wasn't taught this in school. It came from life lessons seeing manufacturing leave the Midwest.
I know overseas is more economical and many of the comforts I enjoy are directly from the competition from overseas.
I am so glad America is rebounding and am thrilled with the new shopping intelligence the world wide web offers.
Millionaire Tips,
I hate anything that is negative - and you can quote me on that one! You are right, the ban is overreacting, a more positive approach is needed and is now available.
kikalina,
Isn't it fun to see how we can make the world a better place even with simple inventions such as this!
You mention an injury that is close to my heart. I was very ill when I was four years old. The doctor felt it was from germs from a drinking fountain and scolded me severely. I have never forgotten it.
I love this new invention - long overdue.
Fascinating fact about the culture in S. Korea. Water has to be a right - it is vital to healthy living. It is amazing we can survive without food but dehydration hurts us faster and with more deadly force.
I have never liked the plastic bottles but I began my career in municipal water and the whole idea of buying bottled water was contrary to what my water production team members would recommend. So glad we have come so far.
Thank you so much for your high marks! That means allot to me.
what an absolutely incredible idea ! shame on the usa for not using this ingenious idea and continuing to destroy the planet with those plastic water bottles, every small thing each person does to consciously preserve the planet is valuable. it is so simple to get a water filter and nice water bottle to carry with you everyday. naturally, when the bottle gets empty you can refill it with this intelligent, innovative useful idea ! makes me want to move to australia !
voted up, interesting, useful and beautiful ! please check out my hubs as well, and learn how i try and enhance the planet through the universal language of music !
That's really interesting, I didn't know that was going on. I think that a ban is overreaching, but certainly a marketing campaign, and making refill stations and water fountains available again to make it more convenient would be helpful.
What an educational hub! Thanks
So simple, but yet so wonderful! This serves so many purposes from avoiding the germs of those who put their lips on fountains, and what I like best- it is safe for the environment. I hope these will soon be everywhere. Awesome hub!
It's about time. When I was growing up, right here in NYC there were water fountains everywhere. In the parks we children had plenty to drink.
By the way, living in Seoul, S. Korea over a 4 year period, where everything was recycled even food, water was almost a right. There were those big water coolers everywhere and only with the slightest little paper cups shaped like a cone - no plastic there. And all through the mountains were springs and you can take your big pot to the tap and fill up with water.
Of course we are finding out that the plastic water bottles are toxic so I thought how clever it would be if I filled this beautiful flask I have and walk around with that - but imagine taking a sip of it while I work as a substitute teacher! Yikes.
Great photos - thanks for a super hub and great information.
Rated way up!
Karen Gomez,
The technology is changing and without the videos I think it is hard to fully understand. Thank you for stopping in.
Glenn,
You are absolutely correct about the landfills. And in the long run our pocketbook is happy too!
Many thanks for this it was very useful. It was very helpful that you put a list of merchandise to pick from. The video you posted was awesome it helped me know more on my analysis to purchase the most effective water filtration product. I am currently trying to find a good water filtration product that I can use at home.
This is a great idea and saves our landfills from all those plastic bottles.
Mark,
I was surprised too! It is a great idea! Long overdue - so glad I could help spread the word.
Love water, know the importance of point-of-use water - that is the wave of the future. It is the corrosive piping not the water production - as you know it is the chlorine and the lead joints.
Thank you so much for stopping by. Please keep in touch - we share the love of pure water!
I can't believe I have not seen one of those yet. What a great idea. It is too bad that the idea of reusable water bottles is not more widely used. I often see so much bottled water and that plastic just goes to waste. I fill up at home with my Advanced water filter and Kor bottle. Check out http://advancedwaterfilters.com/ for the filter
- NYC $700,000 Advertising Campaign Market Tap Water
The City of New York has embarked on a $700,000 advertising campaign marketing its own tap water to city residents. The goal of the campaign is to decrease the number of people who buy bottled water - reducing waste and saving residents hundreds of d
- Restaurants Move Toward Bottled Water Ban - Project Economy News Story - WCVB Boston
BOSTON -- Some Boston-area restaurants say they're planning to stop sales of bottled water at their eateries in an effort to be more environmentally-conscious. Thursday, April 3, 2008.
- Paris France's Tap Water Marketing Campaign - Eau de Paris
France invented bottled water, but Evian and Perrier may have new competition. The Parisian Water Authority is promoting Paris tap water, under the name Eau de Paris. The campaign insists that tap water has all the minerals of expensive bottled water
- Minneapolis Spends $180,000 to Market Its Tap Water
Minneapolis tap water lacks the cach of Evian or Perrier, so a main focus of the marketing campaign will be to build "brand awareness" for tap water. Sara Cziok, LaBreche marketing communications manager and the tap water project lead, says the shee
- Water Water Everywhere - Getcha Grub on: August 2007
When you choose not to spend money on something you could get for free... the private companies sucking up this limited natural resource--and then turning around and charging us mightily--are getting away with it. What's worse is that what you are dr
- US Students Rally for more Water Fountains | Drinking Water Fountains
Students are campaigning to bring back the water fountains to their campuses so students can fill up their water bottles instead of having to shell out $2.50 per bottle from the vending machine, or buy the alternative of sugary soft drinks to quench
- TapIt Free Tap Water Refills In NYC | Keetsa Mattress Store Keetsa! Blog Eco-Friendly and Green N
Well whether the tap water in NYC is clean is up for debate, but lets leave that aside for now, as thats not quite the point. TapIt is a new service that has launched in New York City that offers up free tap water refills at over 100 locations in p
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In Appreciation Sources and Disclosures
Photo of Filler Up stations in Bundanoon, New South Wales, Australia provided from:
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/bottler-of-idea-as-town-doesnt-go-with-the-flow-20090926-g740.html
Photo of View from Echo Point, Morton National Park, Bundanoon.
http://www.highlandsnsw.com.au/nature/index.html
Bundy on Tap photos provided by:
http://www.adventureworldmagazineonline.com/news/australian-city-ditches-disposable-plastic-water-bottles/
Take Back the Tap photo provided by:
http://www.foodchannel.com/stories/981-tap-water-making-a-comeback
A More Sustainable Way photo of Samantha Dunn of Belgrave Austrailia
Name: Samantha DunnLocation: Selby, Dandenong Ranges, Australia
http://crdunn.blogspot.com/
American Throw Away photo courtesy of:
http://daily.swarthmore.edu/2010/2/9/earthlust-activism/
Berkley Hydration Station
http://www.drinkingwaterfountains.co.uk/2009/01/13/us-students-rally-for-more-water-fountains/
Just Tap It! Courtesy of
Muhlenberg College Student Government
2400 West Chew Street
Allentown, PA 18104-5586
Only Tap Water Delivers
http://www.designfirms.org/images/portfolios/big-4883.jpg
Hydration Station at Berkely.edu Peg Skorpinski photo
http://www.berkeley.edu/news/berkeleyan/2009/03/19_thirst.shtml
wikipedia - name of Bundanoon and city census statistics
Citations and Sources:
1Town of Concord Bans Bottled Water
2 Call for Bottled Water Bans Grow in Canada
3 Austrailans Ban Bottled Water
4 http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/551909
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Copyright: © 2010 4FoodSafety All Rights Reserved - 4FoodSafety loves to share her ideas but greatly appreciates credit for her hard work. Please email the author for permission for use of terms and ideas shared in this or other 4FoodSafety articles on health, fitness and exercise.
FTC Disclosure: The author holds an MBA and is a certified personal trainer. She has held various leadership positions in major corporations and premier governmental agencies. She is the inventor of the patented EZ Swimmer - a fitness tool used in water aerobics to help target tone using your own body weight in the swimming pool. She loves to share her studies on health, fitness, the environment and filtered water. She has held various leadership roles including risk manager, Deputy Treasurer and most recently as Finance Director and Marketing Director.
4FoodSafety Hub Author 2 months ago
Thank you for stopping by. The bottle filling stations I hope will become common worldwide. Water is a vital resource.
Someday we will have two sources of water in each home - one for general purposes and one for drinking.
Our knowledge of bacteria and sanitizing is growing. The myth of ozone being a bad thing is slowly going away with greater education and knowledge.