28th March, 2017
aquafilUS Alpine Grand Water Refills have been installed outside the LA Department of Water and Power
Short and Long Term Benefits of Water Refill Stations
A water hydration station can positively impact both the people and the environment. It’s a small and yet long-term investment that will yield positive results for everyone.
That’s why many communities now have a water refill station and a drinking fountain. Aside from being a growing trend, water drinking stations will continue to be a part of many cities and localities for decades to come.
Many environment-savvy Australians are also becoming aware of the short and long-term benefits of a drinking water station. A few of these are:
Less sugar consumption
This is important. Our bodies are not built to take in much sugar and carbohydrates. Notice that many diseases today are related to overconsumption of sugary foods and drinks (e.g. diabetes, metabolic syndromes, inflammation).
It becomes a daily habit that’s why the effects are often disastrous. This is the case especially with consuming sugary beverages.
Why do people consistently buy those sugary drinks? One reason is that there’s no reliable source of water around. Once they go into the stores, the bottled sugary drinks are prominently displayed (which is why many buy the product).
Thankfully, more and more water hydration stations are being installed in communities. Australians and even tourists can drink water instead of relying on sugary drinks.
Less plastic waste
Many people already drink more water even outdoors. However, some still regularly buy bottled water from the stores.
These plastic bottles are often non-biodegradable. Natural processes can’t break down those plastics so they accumulate in landfill. They might also end up in lakes, rivers and oceans.
The solution is to have a water drinking station nearby. This way, people will just drink directly from the bubbler or fill up their refillable bottles from the refilling point.
This would result in more people using refillable bottles instead of single use plastic bottles that ultimately end up in landfill. This will help the environment and the world as a whole.
Set a good example
People learn best by example. This is the case especially with kids.
Since they are still learning and havelimited experience, they are influenced by what they see happening around them and adults should be leading by example.
If people around are always drinking sugary beverages, kids will likely copy that. But if people choose water over sugary drinks, children will be learning from a good example.
13th November, 2015
Philadelphia Water ‘Kiosks’ – promoting reusable water bottles
There is a growing trend taking place around the world as people, communities, towns and cities are realizing the devastating affect plastic bottles are having on the environment. With the push to reduce the amount of sugary drinks people consume another problem has arisen, the number of single use plastic water bottles purchased has grown significantly. Most of these plastic bottles end up in waterways and landfill.
According to the Philadelphia water department, plastic bottles make up more than half the litter removed from the Schuylkill River each time it is skimmed. Water Commissioner Howard Neukrug recently announced the installation of a network of water ‘kiosks’ that the rowing community and city officials hope will be a significant part of the solution. The ‘kiosks’ will consist of water drinking fountains and bottle refilling stations in an effort to promote reusable water bottles.
12000 reusable water bottles were given away at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta, which attracts a large audience and where a number of portable water refilling stations were set up for athletes and spectators in an effort to send a message.
Philadelphia’s goal is to build a citywide partnership to eliminate litter from the river, city and watershed.
To find out more about Philadelphia’s water advocacy campaigns you can follow the story on social media using #DrinkTapPHL or read the full story here.
15th May, 2015
Creating Green Initiatives and New Long Term Traditions
Challenge: to reduce the amount of disposable plastic waste from water bottles being purchased and disposed of at the school that end up in landfill and to educate students on the negative environmental impact of plastic waste.
Solution: the installation of a Water Refill Station and Drinking Fountain with a green ticker to measure the number of plastic bottles saved from landfill.
Result: an increase in the number of students carrying reusable water bottles to refill at the Water Station and a decrease in the amount of plastic waste produced by the school.
Cheltenham Girls’ High School is a comprehensive High School for girls situated in the leafy suburb of Cheltenham in Sydney’s North West. It was established in 1958 on the former residential estate of the Vicars family who are linked to the early history of Parramatta.
Miss Bessie Mitchell, the founding principal was awarded an MBE for her services to education and following her death in September 1998 she is still remembered as an inspirational figure and vital part of the school’s history.
The school values the strong partnership between staff, students and parents which emphasizes the importance of open and regular communication and current students continue to strengthen the schools culture whilst creating new traditions and initiatives as well.
In 2014, the Student Green Team Leadership Group saw a need to reduce the amount of plastic disposable water bottles being purchased and thrown away. The environmental impact of this plastic waste is vast. Not only does the plastic end up in landfill, but also in the oceans and waterways where it is killing the bird and marine life because they mistake it for food.
It takes an average of 450 years for a disposable plastic bottle to breakdown so every plastic bottle saved from landfill helps the environment. In Australia over the period of one year, the manufacturing of plastic bottled water generates more greenhouse gas emissions than 13,000 cars do in the same time. This is as a result of electricity and fuels being used for water extraction, transportation, refrigeration, recycling, disposal and manufacturing. It is also expensive with Australians spending over $500,000,000 a year on bottled water when the quality of tap water is excellent. One bottle of purchased water can cost $2.50 for 500 ml compared to a few cents per liter of tap water.
Working towards the goal of providing students with free good quality chilled drinking water, the Green Team looked for a sustainable solution that was best suited to the school’s needs.
The aquafilUS range of Water Refill Stations and Drinking Fountains offers a wide range of units to choose from. As well as being wheelchair accessible, the units have a range of optional features, such as water meters to track usage, filtered or non-filtered options and display panels that can be used for artwork, advertising or displaying notices and messages.
The wheelchair accessible wall mounted water refill station and drinking fountain best suited the schools requirements offering chilled water, hands free automatic bottle refilling with a 20 second shut off timer, soft mouth guard drinking fountain, anti-bacterial protection and a green ticker that records how many bottles have been saved from landfill.
The installation of the water refill station and drinking fountain has helped encourage both staff and students to refill their own drink bottles instead of purchasing bottled water whilst also increasing awareness of the negative impact plastic waste has on the environment. It also helps encourage students to drink more water by giving them easy access to an unlimited supply of fresh chilled drinking water which has a positive and healthy impact.
This has been a great result for the Cheltenham Green Team Leadership Group who has reduced the amount of plastic waste produced by the school whilst providing free chilled drinking water creating a WIN WIN situation for the environment and the school community.
26th July, 2014
Working towards its ‘Green Star’ goal
Challenge: Environmentally sustainable initiatives to help reach goal of becoming a ‘Green Star – Education v1’ enterprise.
Solution: Water refill stations and drinking fountains across three Deakin campuses.
Result: A sustainable initiative in the effort to achieve best practice water conservation.
Working towards its goal of being a ’Green Star – Education v1’ enterprise that integrates environmental sustainability principles into all of its operations, policies and activities, Deakin University has installed aquafil™ water refill stations and drinking fountains in key locations across three campuses.
26th July, 2014
Supporting sustainable living by reducing plastic waste
Challenge: Finding innovative ways to achieve the communities strategic plan 2013-23 objective relating to practicing sustainable living and reducing their ecological footprint.
Solution:
– Installing a permanent water refill station and drinking fountain at Reddall Reserve on the Lake Illawarra foreshore
– Providing portable water refill stations at Council’s major events in key public places.
Result: Taking a step closer to being a leader in Environmental Sustainability by supporting and encouraging the community to practice sustainable living by reducing plastic waste from disposable drink bottles.
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