Water bottle refill program flowing in Niverville

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This article was published 06/08/2018 (2088 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Parched passers-by in Niverville can now attend one of three access sites to refill their water bottles for free as part of a national program.

Dianna Meseyton-Neufeld, a healthy living facilitator with Southern Health, said the Blue W program aims to reduce single-use plastics, promote municipal water sources, and provide a healthy way for on-the-go individuals to stay hydrated.

Public or private sector partners who sign on to provide free tap water to the public receive window decals and are added to an online database containing more than 26,000 access sites across Canada.

Thirsty users can then log on to bluew.org, enter their location, and find the access site nearest them.

Taps in schools and washrooms are exempt from the program, and access sites can range from a dedicated filling station to a pitcher of water, Meseyton-Neufeld said. Businesses who sell bottled water can also participate, as the program isn’t an anti-bottling campaign, she explained.

In Niverville, the municipal office, Hespeler’s Cookhouse and Tavern, and Bigway Foods have all joined.

Angela Janz, a Town of Niverville recreation programmer who alerted council to the Blue W program, said she hopes the arrival of Blue W boosts foot traffic for participating local businesses and proves useful to walkers and cyclists who use the town’s active transportation network.