Bottled water and the State closing of water fonts.

[Truth.ie]

If you're under 30 you may not have noticed this, but there was a time (which lasted for generations) when you were never less than a few hundred metres from free, drinking water in Ireland, when out in your day to day business.
I'm talking about the water fonts, which were provided since the days of British Rule, but were slowly but sneakily removed by the current rulers around the time of the rise of bottled water. Bottled water which raises millions in revenue.
In my youth I remember these fonts, next to the playground we played in, outside the shops my parents shopped in, every country crossroads we walked in, in the hospital waiting room, airport lobbies and in my school playground.
Bottled water was unheard of and indeed it's arrival prompted much sniggering and disbelief.
I despise bottled water and avoid buying it if possible. Mainly due to the cost, but also for the environmental reasons of its production and disposal. But the State has cunningly removed all these beautiful and ornate sources of water, depriving us of a basic human right, gradually forcing us to be almost reliant on the bottled water industry. Now when I'm at a playground with my kids, nephews or nieces, I'm forced to buy water in the local shop, whilst for me it was free and convenient. Everywhere we go outside our homes be it hospitals or bus stations we are forced into this scenario, yet 100 years ago we had better public services. Today it seems they want to charge us more for services but provide less.
Can we please bring back this human right and can the State please revert their policy of turning off the tap. Give us back our fonts and wean our people off the plastic bottle. Surely it's in everybody's interest, as it would mean less landfill, less pollution and healthier children.

[sauntersplash]

If you're under 30 you may not have noticed this, but there was a time (which lasted for generations) when you were never less than a few hundred metres from free, drinking water in Ireland when out in your day to day business.
I'm talking about the water fonts, which were provided since the days of British Rule, but were slowly but sneakily removed by the current rulers around the time of the rise of bottled water. Bottled water which raises millions in revenue.
In my youth I remember these fonts, next to the playground we played in, outside the shops my parents shopped in, every country crossroads we walked in, in the hospital waiting room, airport lobbies and in my school playground.
Bottled water was unheard of and indeed it's arrival prompted much sniggering and disbelief.
I despise bottled water and avoid buying it if possible. Mainly due to the cost, but also for the environmental reasons of its production and disposal. But the State has cunningly removed all these beautiful and ornate sources of water, depriving us of a basic human right, gradually forcing us to be almost reliant on the bottled water industry. Now when I'm at a playground with my kids, nephews or nieces, I'm forced to buy water in the local shop, whilst for me it was free and convenient. Everywhere we go outside our homes be it hospitals or bus stations we are forced into this scenario, yet 100 years ago we had better public services.
Can we please bring back this human right and can the State please revert their policy of turning off the tap. Give us back our fonts and wean our people off the plastic bottle. Surely it's in everybody's interest, as it would mean less landfill, less pollution and healthier children.

Any ideas as to how much these amenities would cost in installation/maintenance these days?

What about flouride?

[Truth.ie]

Any ideas as to how much these amenities would cost in installation/maintenance these days?

What about flouride?

Install? They were already there and were removed. It was affordable in post famine Ireland.
Cost to re-install? I'm guessing a length of rubber hose leading to a tap in strategic public places like parks, train stations, town centres etc. Probably cost as much as a 2 day Royal visit.
What happened and what is happening is downright immoral. Remove sources of drinking water from the public and tax the bejaysus of bottled water in shops. The Greens should've been raising this issue in Govt as bottled water is a huge portion of our landfill. Not to mention the damage caused in it's manufacturing.

[Luachara]

I was amazed to find a major hospital to visit an Aunt providing spring water on tap from large chilled containers.

Why can they not use the public water supply in Drogheda?

[Aindriu]

"Why can they not use the public water supply in Drogheda?" I wouldn't drink any public water supply water unless it had been filtered. Sorry, just don't trust the councils to clean it properly. I use Sligo and Limerick as my examples.

[Truth.ie]

I raise this issue, as Ive just walked through a beautiful park abroad and drank from one of those old fashioned, cast-iron fonts.
Brought back memories of when you could do likewise in Stephens Green, or indeed even in beaches or the wildest parts of rural Ireland.

[Truth.ie]

"Why can they not use the public water supply in Drogheda?" I wouldn't drink any public water supply water unless it had been filtered. Sorry, just don't trust the councils to clean it properly. I use Sligo and Limerick as my examples.

I don't think all the filtering in the World can stop microscopic bacteria. I drink water from the tap at home, and I've had no problems thus far.

[johnfás]

Alot of municipal water supplies in Dublin parks were in fact removed because addicts were cleaning bits and pieces in them rendering them unsafe for public use.

[Luachara]

"Why can they not use the public water supply in Drogheda?" I wouldn't drink any public water supply water unless it had been filtered. Sorry, just don't trust the councils to clean it properly. I use Sligo and Limerick as my examples.

I don't know why the Lourdes will not use the Public supply. Could it be because so many towns sewage works discharge into the Boyne?

[CookieMonster]

Alot of municipal water supplies in Dublin parks were in fact removed because addicts were cleaning bits and pieces in them rendering them unsafe for public use.

Which is why, if they were provided, I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole... same goes for public toilets.