Water bottle fillers in Athlone Library welcomed

Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Ken Glynn recently visited Athlone Library where where new water bottle fillers have been installed to encourage users to bring their own bottle and refill as required.

Cathaoirleach Glynn stated “I am delighted to see these units, offering a free water refill, placed in key public locations. This is a pragmatic solution to tackling the plastic pollution problem, as users have the opportunity to refill their own reusable bottle. It also gives people the opportunity to take a practical step in tackling climate change as so often we hear about the need to “take action” to tackle climate change and it can seem unreachable but this is a simple step that anyone from nought to ninety can take”.

The installation of the water bottle fillers is a waste prevention initiative by the Council’s Environment Department. Ruth Maxwell of the Environment Department stated “Every day in excess of 220,000 single use plastic bottles are used in Ireland. Under this initiative twelve water bottle fillers are being installed in key public locations in Westmeath, with the remaining installation scheduled for Belvedere House, Park and Gardens in the new year.

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Ms. Maxwell said each one of these units will play a part in reducing the demand for plastic bottles, with some of the units being installed in schools. "Installing the units in schools has a dual effect – it creates an amenity in the school and is also an educational tool to practically demonstrate how our actions can make a difference – one sip at a time!” she said.

The water bottle fillers allow the user to insert their reusable bottle into the unit where it is filled automatically, without any need for touch or contact. There is a digital counter on the unit and it records the number of refills per unit. The units have been supplied and installed by Crystal Clear Ltd.