OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA — The East Bay Municipal Utility District laid out plans Tuesday for a pilot program to open seven water fill stations to promote tap water use and reduce use of disposable plastic water bottles.
If the stations prove popular, the water district would consider opening more of them within its territory in Contra Costa and Alameda counties.
Unlike traditional water fountains that bubble water upward, the hydration stations dispense water downward to quickly and conveniently fill up water bottles, which can be carried to work and school or on runs and hikes. Fountain angles often make it difficult to fill a bottle.
“The idea is to get people to drink more tap water and produce less plastic trash,” said Marguerite Young, an EBMUD board member from Oakland. “We have very high quality water, and drinking tap water costs a small fraction of purchased bottled water.”
Young and two others on the board’s sustainability and energy committee informally supported the plan Tuesday. The committee told district managers to work out details of the program and line up sites at schools, parks and transit stations.
EBMUD officials said they would like to install a fill station at up to three BART train stations because they believe it would be popular, providing a good test of the program.
While many airports have bottled water fill stations located past security checkpoints, BART has none in its sites. BART bans drinking water or other liquids on train cars to help keep them clean.
BART spokesman Jim Allison said the train system hasn’t had time to study the proposal and take a position on it.
Water district officials estimate it would cost $70,000 to $160,000 to establish seven stations. Estimates vary sharply because a station would cost much more if the site didn’t already have water pipes.
Bottled water companies say their product is popular because it’s convenient to use.
Water district staffers said promoting tap water use is an environmentally friendlier alternative to having people use bottled water.
“Hydration stations also reduce energy use and the amount of plastic bottles sent to landfills or to the San Francisco Bay,” water district managers wrote in a report.
About 11 billion gallons of water was sold in plastic bottles in the nation in 2014, and the number is on the rise, according to the report.
The per capita national sales volume of bottled increased from 23 gallons to 34 gallons per year in the decade between 2004 and 2014, according to a water district report.
Yet bottled water is about 2,000 times more energy intensive than tap water, and 80 percent of plastic water bottles end up in landfills or as litter, district officials said.
“Our EBMUD water is very high quality,” said Jenesse Miller, a district spokeswoman. “It comes from the Sierra snow melt.”
About 25 percent of bottled water sold in this country is actually public tap water, officials added.
The East Bay district captures Mokelumne River water from the Sierra foothills and pipes it to 1.4 million people in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
Looking for a low-cost bottle filler?Looking for a low-cost, easy-to-install bottle filler to provide drinking water? Sick of trying to fill up your bottle in the drinking fountain? Look no further!
The Haws Bottle Filler, model 1900, features a patent pending reversible drain, enabling the unit to be installed above most existing drinking fountains or electric water coolers or be mounted as a stand-alone fixture.
KEY FEATURES:
• Patented push-button operation
• No electrical required
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• Separate mounting frame allows for quick and easy installation
• ADA compliant
• Universal fit
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Bottle Fillers Installed at California State University
Three new bottle fillers have been added at the University-Student Union (U-SU) at California State University, Los Angeles!
ASI’s Vice-President for Academic Governance, Nicholas Carrillo says, “The Space Allocation and Building Use Committee wanted to provide students the opportunity to have healthier and more sustainable drinking options on campus. We want to encourage students to stray away from bringing or purchasing water bottles and instead bring your own to refill throughout the day.” What a great way to Drink Up!
To read the full article by Donia Solano, click here.
To learn more about the model 1900 bottle filler, click here.
Check Out the New Haws Bottle Filler in Action! Visit us at the ASPE Expo- Booth #1338
Haws will be exhibiting at the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) beginning today in Chicago, IL at McCormick Place. ASPE will be celebrating 50 years of advancing plumbing engineering at this biennial exposition September 22-23rd.
ASPE’s Convention and Exposition is the ONLY industry event designed to showcase innovations in plumbing system design—where plumbing engineers, designers, specifiers, and contractors can learn about the latest plumbing products, services, and design techniques.Â
Come by our booth #1338 to view the new Model 1900 bottle filler.
You’ll also want to stop by our booth to see the AXION Advantage system, the winner of the 2014 OH&S New Product of the Year Award, the 2014 ISHN Readers’ Choice Award and the American Society of Safety Engineers- Safety Show’s Attendee Choice Award.
Lastly, its not too late to sign up for a free expo pass at ASPE by clicking here.
Come see us BOOTH #1338!
SEPTEMBER 2014 NEWSLETTERHaws® Introduces New Bottle Filler at Breakthrough Price, Providing Retrofit or Stand-Alone Installation Options
Haws is proud to announce availability of the plumbing industry’s lowest-cost Bottle Filler, Model 1900. The Haws Bottle Filler features a patent-pending reversible drain, enabling the unit to be installed above an existing drinking fountain or mounted as a stand-alone fixture.
Featuring the industry’s lowest list price, the unit provides drinking water to schools, offices, and indoor facilities at a fraction of the cost of a typical bottle filler.
Key Features:
- 100% lead-free waterways
- Patent-pending reversible drain can be turned inward for in-wall waste hook-up
- Separate mounting frame allows for quick and easy installation
- ADA compliant
Learn more about the Haws Bottle Filler (Model 1900) Now »
Upcoming Events
September 15-17 – NSC
Haws will be exhibiting at the National Safety Council Expo being held September 15-17th in San Diego. Visit us at booth #2138 to see some of our latest safety innovations including the AXION Advantage™ system, ISHN Reader’s Choice Award Winner 2014. Sign up for a free expo pass at NSC by clicking here.
September 22-23 – ASPE
The American Society of Plumbing Engineers will be celebrating 50 years of advancing plumbing engineering at their biennial exposition September 22-23rd in Chicago and Haws will be participating. Come by booth #1338 to view the new Model 1900 bottle filler. Sign up for a free expo pass at ASPE by clicking here.