So people and planet stay cool

Aug 18 2009 by Gary Beckwith, The Journal

A unique trial of a machine which could cut the environmental cost of bottled water is taking place in Newcastle. AMY HUNT reports

FRESH, chilled water that doesn’t cost the earth sounds like a simple concept. But there’s a huge market in bottled mineral water, which can have huge environmental costs.

This water has to be bottled, packed and transported, before being drunk and the bottle thrown in the bin.

Now Northumbrian Water is trying out a machine which could change our attitude to bottled water forever.

It has installed the Hydrachill refilling station at Newcastle’s Discovery Museum to see how it works.

The idea is simple. Customers buy an empty sports-cap bottle from the dispenser. They then fill it with fresh, chilled mains water from a spout on the machine as many times as they wish.

Of course, if you already have your own bottle, you can fill that up, so you don’t need to buy a whole new bottle of water, saving you cash and preventing waste.

And if you choose to buy a bottle, you can take it away with you and carry on re-using it.

The Hydrachill is the first of its kind in the North East and thought to be the only one in public use in the UK.

Bosses at the water group hope, if the trial is successful, to create a network of Hydrachills around the North East and beyond, in places such as shopping centres, stations and leisure centres.

Northumbrian Water communications manager Alistair Baker said: “If this trial is successful, we will be looking to promote and install them regionwide. We’re trialling it in a museum, but it could be used in any public place.

“Some schools, for example, already have chillers, but they don’t necessarily have the bottles available.

“This is a simple, modern and appealing way of getting a regular, easily available supply of tap water that people can use and enjoy when they are not near a tap.

“It gets rid of all the issues of transporting bottled water, recycling plastic bottles, wasting energy and saving carbon emissions. All the machine needs is to be near the mains water supply and an electricity socket. It’s very environmentally sound.”

The Hydrachill has been placed in the Northumbrian Water-sponsored Play Tyne area at the Discovery Museum, a display for children under seven. After a two-month refurbishment Play Tyne has been designed with a water cycle theme, illustrating rain, snow and weather scenes. It includes a river that runs through the room with floating toys where children can make a splash.

Play Tyne also features designs of Karl, Kelly, Jermaine, Bethany and Splash the dog, Northumbrian Water’s superheroes, known as the H2O Gang.

The H2O Gang aim to help children understand how precious water is for life, health and the environment.

Northumbrian Water head of corporate responsibility Louise Hunter said: “We’re really excited about the Hydrachill unit. As well as keeping youngsters hydrated, it helps them to protect the environment by using a refillable bottle.”

The Discovery Museum is open from Monday to Saturday from 10am-5pm and Sunday 2pm-5pm. Admission is free. For details, visit www.twmuseums.org.uk/discovery.