MANLY UNVEILS AUSTRALIA'S FIRST FREE FILTERED WATER STATIONS

In a move to provide locals and the eight million tourists who visit the area each year with free filtered water, and reduce water bottles littered throughout Manly, Mayor Peter Macdonald unveiled Australia's first filtered water bubblers on Manly Corso.

Macdonald was joined by Jon Dee and Culligan Water general manager, Tim Gordon, who are driving forces behind Bottled Water Alliance - organisations and people seeking to reduce Australia's half billion dollar annual addiction to bottled water.

“Bottled Water Alliance calls on all of Australia's Councils to improve and update their public water bubblers," says alliance organiser Dee. "Councils have an obligation to provide filtered water to residents and visitors. It is imperative they deliver the highest quality with maximum convenience."

The six designer water bubblers along key sections of Manly's Corso are each fitted with hi-tech Culligan Water filters, providing pure, great-tasting water as good - if not better - than bottled water from shops. Bubblers are wheelchair friendly and Manly Council staff will disinfect them twice daily.

“This project gives the dowdy image of public water bubblers a 21st Century facelift," Gordon said. "Culligan is pleased to provide this fail safe filtration technology and offer 5,000 free refillable water bottles to Manly Council."

The Culligan refillable bottles are convenient, foldable bottles that can be reused again and again without risk of harmful toxins leaking from the plastic. They are part Bottled Water Alliance's aim for one reusable bottle per person in ultimate efforts to place one million in the market, potentially removing 150 million water bottles from circulation per annum.