Forums Forums Wirral Information Ask - Wiki Wirral Public drinking fountains

These are now well in the public eye and are being reintroduced across the country in an attempt to reduce the use of disposable bottles of water. One sometimes sees them in waiting rooms usually with a supply of disposable plastic cups, but I think the emphasis will be on outside facilities in streets. They used to exist years ago, but I guess they have all been closed down to save money by now.

Can anyone think of an existing one anywhere on the Wirral? Or on Merseyside?

Outside ones will just get vandalised, pointless and costly exercise

Interesting that they are saying to reuse plastic bottles after years of them telling us not to.

I remember using the outdoor water fountains when I was out and about as a child, and very much appreciated they were. There's one (not working!) embedded in the wall by the park lodge opposite the Arrowe Park Hotel and I'm sure there are many others lurking about. If I remember rightly there's a restored (but not working) Victorian drinking fountain on Hoylake prom, and one in Harrison Park. I wonder has any local history enthusiast listed those remaining?

Different 'theys' I think. It was the drinks bottle manufacturers who were telling us not to reuse them.

But they would say that, wouldn't they?

I don't think vandalism would be a huge concern, Probably pretty easy to make them pretty well vandal proof if they are designed only to fill bottles. Freezing and bursting would be of more concern, but I imagine that the use of plastic piping might stop them bursting, and good installation stops them freezing. Global warming may alleviate the problem too!

As to drinking fountains being costly, the UK bottled water market is worth £2.4 billion a year (http://www.britishbottledwater.org/vital-statistics.asp) If drinking fountains allow them to be reused only once, we will save half this. - £1.2 Billion. Even if installing a drinking fountain costs £1,000 this would pay for 1,200,000 a year. - One for every 25 households!

This is way above what is needed of course. I mention it only to show how much cheaper drinking fountains are than bottled water.

Dont quite follow your logic "ex".. bottled water companies will lose £1.2 billion and govt will lose out on the tax (if it is taxed?). Local councils will have to pay and fund the water fountains via our council tax. Not every plastic bottle will get used twice
Wonder where most people actually drink their bottled water?

would be nice to see the fountains return purely from a nostaljic point of view.

The logic is that although the government loses out, the bottle-buying public gains. And it being made easy for bottles to be reused, this will cut the amount of plastic waste. Not all bottles will be used twice, but some will be used many times, so on average an estimate of a 50% reduction is as good a guess as any. Although governments will lose some tax, and have to fund maintenance of the fountains and this will be reflected in higher taxes, this increase will be less than the £1.2 billion a year saved by the public buying fewer bottles.

The only real losers are the manufacturers, about whom I would not worry much.

As the bottled water industry has had absolutely huge mark-ups on their products and has ripped customers off for years, I have no tears if they go bust but I do feel sorry for their workforce in manufacture, supply chain and sales.

I don't really understand how the fountain system is going to attract many people filling up their bottles, most people have taps at home, what would be the point of going out your way to a fountain to fill up a bottle you have to carry anyway?

There is a high risk, as in the past, of people vandalising the fountains physically, chemically or biologically. I'd certainly prefer to use my tap at home.

I can't see me not buying bottled water, a new sealed bottle has a long shelf life, I keep bottles in various bags and in my cars, I don't want to be washing and replenishing bottles all the time or trying to guess how old they are.

Why don't the Government just tax plastic bottles out of existence, there are plenty of fluids sold in less harmful materials.

Was walking from the multi storey carpark along the road behind the Liver Buildings and spotted one in the wall , not working, but seemingly intact at passing glance. Withe the water coming up in a fountain from a mains source, straight into someones mouth, surely there wouldnt be a possibility of 'chemical vandalism'?--

Chewing gum, glue etc

We used to have them in every park, they were under constant attack one way or another.

For biological think more like disgusting rather than weapons of mass destruction.

.

There's still one on Bidston Hill by the observatory - not working of course. I remember the one in the Arno when I was a lad. Woodchurch Rd Primary had one in the playground too

Jesse Hartley had these fountains built into 'his' wall - I think they were 30 feet apart the full length of the wall- he hoped that the Dockers would quench their thirst from a fountain as opposed to going the pub!

Jesse Hartley had these fountains built into 'his' wall - I think they were 30 feet apart the full length of the wall- he hoped that the Dockers would quench their thirst from a fountain as opposed to going the pub![/quote

Well I did have children maithering, so thats probably why I only noticed the one lol! As for Mr Hartley's hope for the dockers , no doubt the water would be very grateful received on the way TO work the next morning to counteract the bird cage mouth from the previous nights hammering ha!!

Cost of continually repairing mindless vandalism possible biggest issue?



One was in harrison park as mentioned over by the entrance near the football pitches, cant recall where in Central Park there was one, but think one did exist, edge of Grove Road Station approach in wallasey village I think had one.

There was one in Central Park near the lake. We used to rinse handfuls of pond mud in it to get the bloodworms to use as fishing bait. Also when we were fighting we would bang our opponent's head against it.

It's still there. Also, one by Cammell Lairds.