Public water fountain trialled in Laois could be rolled out nationwide

A public water refill station trialled in Ballacolla could soon be rolled out nationwide. 

It comes as Laois Offaly based Green Minister welcomes moves by her party to try and waive a €2,000 connection fee for public water fountains. 

Minister Pippa Hackett said Irish people purchase a “colossal and unsustainable” three million plastic bottles daily. She believes more water stations would help alleviate the use of single use plastics.  

“This week, my Green Party Seanad colleagues, brought a motion to the Seanad that water connection charges be waived for public water bottle refill stations. At present the connection charge is over €2,000,” said Minister Hackett. 

A commitment to develop a scheme to provide drinking water fountains nationwide is included in the Programme for Government. 

“I am thrilled that my Green Party colleagues are keeping this item on the agenda. This is essential if we are to reduce plastic bottle litter. In Ireland we purchase an estimated three million plastic bottles every day – that is colossal and unsustainable,” she said.  

“Progress is being made and the Senators’ motion is timely. Last year, the Department of Housing funded a refill station pilot, including installs at Ballacolla in Co Laois and Tubber in Co Offaly located beside the walking tracks around GAA pitches in their locality,” Minister Hackett explained. 

The Ballacolla refill station is located beside the community hall, local handball club and national school. The water fountains are contactless, operating on sensors. They can decorated with the group water scheme’s branding.

The four pilot schemes were led by the  National Federation of Group Water Schemes(NFGWS) who helped roll out pilot refill stations in Laois, Offaly, Clare and Galway. 

“Uisce Éireann are working with the Commission of the Regulation of Utilities and will engage with our county councils to deliver a wider pilot this year. Ultimately this must be a nationwide scheme.  The public must have confidence that they can bring their reusable water bottles with them and there will be a refill station nearby,” said Minister Hackett. 

“I believe we all know the problem that plastic pollution is causing in our countryside and most importantly, in our oceans. Just because we live in land locked counties does not mean we don’t have a responsibility to stem the flow of plastic into the sea. We managed to dramatically reduce our use of plastic bags over 20 years ago – now we must find ways to reduce our use of all single use plastic items," she said. 

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"This government has committed to a deposit and return scheme for plastic bottles to start in February 2024, a levy of disposable cups by the end of this year and a complete ban on items such as plastic cutlery. A water bottle refill scheme will be part of the overall move away from single use plastic and I welcome that,” Minister Hackett concluded.