Public fountains, or publicly accessible taps with drinking water, play an important role in environmental conservation and the sustainable use of resources. Their availability encourages residents and visitors to use reusable bottles instead of buying water in single-use plastic bottles, thus achieving two key benefits: reducing plastic waste and saving water and resources.
By using public fountains, the need to purchase water in plastic bottles is reduced. A single person who regularly refills a reusable bottle instead of buying single-use bottles can prevent the creation of dozens of kilograms of plastic waste per year. Since plastic bottles often end up in nature, seas, and oceans, this practice directly contributes to reducing environmental pollution.
Producing one litter of bottled water requires more than three litters of water (including the production process, cooling, and equipment cleaning), whereas a public fountain uses only the amount of water that is dispensed. In addition, the bottled water industry consumes large amounts of energy for the production, transport and cooling of bottles. Public fountains, especially those with an automatic shut-off mechanism, allow for efficient use of water without unnecessary waste.
The Refill Hvar – pour it up for less project is supported by DIEF – the Dalmatian Islands Environment Foundation, thanks to funds provided by the Conservation Collective through a partnership with Depeche Mode & Hublot during their Memento Mori world tour.
The project is led by the Association for Sustainable Community Development “Moj škoj” from Zavala on the island of Hvar, while the Association for Nature, Environment, and Sustainable Development Sunce is a project partner. The project is carried out in cooperation with the local community, the Municipality of Jelsa, and the Jelsa Tourist Board.
With Croatia’s growing tourism market comes an increase in waste volumes during the season. Plastic bottles account for a substantial 20–30% of the volume of packaging waste. Consumer habits of tourists during the season show that bottled water ranks high on their list of purchases. Tourists stock their accommodations with plastic bottles and leave behind heaps of plastic waste upon departure. Croatia has excellent tap water quality, and this fact is planned to be promoted among visitors to the island of Hvar, especially those coming to Jelsa.
Objectives
To tackle the problem of single-use plastic bottles, the aim is to carry out activities that will help reduce plastic waste and address two specific issues:
- the lack of a free public water network on Hvar increases the demand for bottled water,
- the lack of awareness about the quality of Croatian tap water encourages tourists to buy bottled water, and single-use plastic consumption in Jelsa further increases the overall amount of plastic waste.
The goal is to provide locals and visitors in Jelsa with public fountains where reusable bottles can be refilled. In addition to infrastructure-related objectives, the goals are to:
- educate municipal utility companies and staff of institutions so they can continue to educate others on the importance of public fountains, thereby helping reduce plastic bottle waste,
- promote public fountains and free drinking water,
- carry out two clean-up actions, and provide support and strengthen the capacity of local partners and businesses for the successful implementation of activities aimed at reducing the use of single-use plastics.
Results:
- 9 public fountains installed
- fountain locations promoted on Jadrolinija ferry lines to Jelsa
- informational campaign for accommodation providers and their guests
- two clean-up actions and two educational sessions for local residents and businesses carried out.
Project lead: Association for Sustainable Community Development “Moj škoj”
Project partner: Association for Nature, Environment, and Sustainable Development Sunce
Project duration: January 3, 2025 – January 2, 2027
Funding: Dalmatian Islands Environment Foundation (DIEF) – thanks to funds provided by the Conservation Collective through a partnership with Depeche Mode & Hublot.
Total project budget: EUR 39,915.13
Project manager at Sunce: Dalka Zanki
E-mail: [email protected]
More about the project: LINK