Manly Council

Posted: 27.11.08 |  Created by: Do Something

Manly Council has joined the Go Tap campaign to launch an Australia-wide campaign that aims to reduce the environmental impact of bottled water.

Our aim is twofold. To save money and the environment, we firstly want Australian councils to stop purchasing bottled water for their offices, facilities and events. Secondly, we want councils to upgrade and improve their water bubblers so that we can reduce the litter and environmental problems caused by bottled water.

In order to provide a role model for the above initiatives, Manly Council has taken the following actions:

1. In December 2007 Manly Council adopted a policy of not purchasing single serve bottled water for use within Manly Council buildings, facilities and events. This helps the environment and saves Manly Council money.

A number of other Australian councils have since taken the same course of action and a motion to encourage the drinking of tap water instead of bottled water was passed unanimously at the NSW Local Government Conference in October 2007.

2. Manly Council has installed six designer water bubblers on Manly Corso and on Manly beachfront. In an Australian-first, all these water bubblers have been fitted free of charge with hi-tech Culligan Water Filters.

This ensures that the millions of people who visit Manly have the ability to drink free of charge filtered water that is as good, if not better, than the bottled water being sold in shops. The aim of this is to save Manly’s visitors money, as well as the environment. It will also reduce the amount of litter in Manly.

Culligan Water will donate the same water filter equipment to any Australian council should they wish to follow Manly’s example. For further information email us.

HOW MANLY COUNCIL IMPLEMENTED THE WATER BUBBLER PROJECT

THE BUBBLERS

The water bubblers chosen for the Manly Bubbler Project had to meet a number of strict criteria. They had to be:

• wheelchair accessible and easy to use for people of all ages
  
• easy to install, maintain and clean, and ensure no water pooled around them
• hardy and resilient enough to cope with attempted vandalism, potential misuse and the Manly sea air
• able to be linked to water filters to ensure that the water going through them was as good, if not better, than bottled water 
• bubblers that people want to use – inviting and attractive ‘designer’ bubblers that broke away from the old-fashioned and staid image of traditional water bubblers.
  

Supplied by Street Furniture Australia, the DF-4 Fountain Head water bubblers used in Manly make an attractive addition to any public space and there has been extremely positive feedback from the public.

THE FILTRATION EQUIPMENT

Culligan Water supplies hi-tech water filter equipment to over 10,000 Australian companies. Culligan used its standard proven water filter equipment for the Manly Council water bubblers. These Culligan Water filters are completely hidden from view within a sign that stands next to the bubblers.

This special signage serves two purposes. Firstly, it hides the filtration equipment thus making the filters vandal proof. Secondly, the sign directs people to the bubbler’s location and highlights the free filtered water service.

Culligan Water donated the Manly filters. As a public service, Culligan Water is also prepared to sponsor each Australian Council who joins Go Tap water bubbler campaign.

When a Council installs a water bubbler, Culligan Water will donate the filter unit for each bubbler FREE OF CHARGE. They will also offer a 50% discount on replacement filters on an ongoing basis.

For further information email us.

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For a range of high-resolution images of the Manly drinking water stations, please click here.