Drinking water fountains are needed in Vancouver!
It’s not a surprise to anyone who has talked to me about my research that I write a lot both on my research site and on this blog about water. Only 3% of the world’s water supply is freshwater (the rest is salt water). I am keenly aware of the fact that the vast majority of my research focus has been on wastewater management and on groundwater governance.
I am also transparent in disclosing that drinking water has just recently become more of an interest of mine given that I am about to undertake a research project on public perceptions of drinking water in the Lower Mainland area (Vancouver and surrounding municipalities).
As I have mentioned before, while I am interested in issues of privatization and commodification of water, I am gaining an interest in encouraging drinking water from the tap. One of the biggest issues that I see (and I communicated this to Metro Vancouver, particularly in regards to the Tap Water Pledge) is that we need more drinking water fountains (and in good condition) in Vancouver if we want to encourage behavioral changes in society!
I had a chance to walk around the West End and with the heat (I think we got up to the 30 oC mark this weekend) I found myself really thirsty. JT and I are fans of bringing our own water bottles but we thought we were going just for a short walk so we didn’t bring them.
As we walked past Jervis and Burnaby we noticed a water fountain, and I proceeded to make a quick pit stop to quench my thirst. I found the water well-tasting, and I immediately thought about the issue of availability of water fountains. I had already had a quick chat with Greg Valou about the fact but I plan to bring the issue up again to the folks who work on the Tap Water Pledge at Metro Vancouver. Availability of water fountains and water quality (including taste) are very relevant issues that need to be looked at.
This will be a really interesting research project and I am really looking forward to working on understanding the complexities of encouraging more people in Vancouver to consume water from the tap and ditch bottled water.
Related posts:
I “do” drink from water fountains but let it run for a moment…avoid the tap water at ubc though…swirling dirt not too appetizing…
Personally I think the city has to take the next step to stop selling bottled water at all civic facilities and the (now private?) concessions. I still think they could make some money if they sold branded (City of Vancouver / Vancouver is great) 1/2 L and 1 L bottles, and filled them with tap water.
In the Ipsos Reid poll 82% of people thought of our tap water as good or very good, but even so 55% drank a combo of tap and bottled water. Accessibility of water (only 250 drinking fountains in Vancouver = not enough) was thought to be the reason for that disconnect. I think that was part of the reason the City’s ‘Greenest City’ recommendations called for drinking fountain initiatives like including them in any renovations & in new constructions of city buildings.
This is making me thirsty.
I walk by that fountain every day on my way to and from work (I love walking through that little wooded parkway), but it’s never occurred to me to want to drink from a public fountain. Especially given the types of people who sleep in and around that park, I don’t trust it. That’s something that needs to be taken care of too – the public perception. They’re no good if no one’s using them.
Patricia, Lisa, Dan – thanks all for commenting. I agree, I think number of fountains needs to increase and perception of safety as well. I’d love to hear many more people’s perceptions as well (so, feel free to share the post via RT or whatever). Again, thanks for commenting!
Interestingly 2 tv shows have taken this on recently. They discovered that virtually no bacteria transferred through the water stream in the ARC version water fountains, and the stainless heads prevent growth there too.
Since they are tied to municipal water source, it’s the same as tap water.
Office water coolers presented MORE of a health risk because people re-fill water bottles and let the lips touch the dispenser.
That said, I don’t drink from public water fountains.
I was under the impression that Vancouver is already building more water fountains and moving away from bottled water at concessions. It would be nice to see them at other “touristy” locations too. I’m happy to find new fountains along the Skytrain routes and restored in locations where they had been previously missing and/or damaged.
As I noted on twitter, I’d rather drink Vancouver tap water than something from a factory sealed in plastic. Who knows where that has been (or how long the plastics have been feeding crap into the water).
I drink from the fountains along Spanish Banks and Kitsilano when running to the Seawall.
Hey Raul, have you read Wescoat et al.’s 2007 publication on water poverty in the United States? I am fairly sure Canada is considered to have 100% or near to 100% access to clean drinking water, yet the public’s trust in municipal systems could tell another story (I’m thinking Walkerton).
I love the idea of public water fountains, and yet I too hesitate to drink from them. Although I think it’s partially because I’ve seen one too many dog owners use them as doggy fountains. But it’s the same people who use the larger water fountains as dog baths and Yaletown sidewalks as a doggy toilets. It’s the same reason why I no longer trust walking through a grassy patch downtown. So for those reasons, somehow it becomes less appealing.
Saying that, I drink tap water without hesitation and will fill up a bottle with tap water anywhere in the city.
I was actualy sitting at the Third Beach concession stand one day looking down to the water fountain by the stairs, and I was impressed by the amount of people who drank from it without hesitation. Yet, with anything, context is key. On a scorching June day on the seawall with a constant barrage of cyclists, joggers, and sunbathers, it makes sense. With strategic locations, it’ll work. Just hold off the dogs… or have an additional doggy fountain down below!
Robyn’s last blog post..What’s the best way to walk to Chinatown from downtown Vancouver?
Drinking from public water fountains and private water fountains is a great blessing of the modern age. Why pay for bottled water? I love public water fountains!
Jasminew812’s last blog post..Jasminew812: RT @ecoartware: Nobody understands Nanoparticles which are in food, cosmetics & toys. E magazine article: http://bit.ly/2h69eT #environment
Everyone, thanks so much for commenting. The general consensus I get is that there is a need for more fountains and for better infrastructure in general.
Dan makes a really good point in that there needs to be infrastructure in place so that we can feel safe drinking water from a fountain where there seems to be some degree of urban decay.
Waterdodo – no, I haven’t seen that one yet. But I’m working on a paper on water poverty. Thanks for pointing me out to that!
Jasmine, Robyn, Jeff, Patricia and Lisa – thanks for chiming in! Appreciate the feedback!
via http://www.straight.com/article-258582/developers-spin-city-vancouvers-open-data-maps-and-vantrash
“Tylor Sherman has put up a Google Maps mash-up of Vancouver’s drinking fountains. Sherman has even posted a video that shows how he put it together using the city’s drinking-fountains data and Drupal.”
http://water.tylorsherman.com/
and
Public fountains are disappearing because the concept of public is disappearing
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/09/28/public-fountains-are.html