New filtered water station promotes healthy lifestyles
By Mary Dennehy
SOUTH Dublin County Council has launched the first of nine water fountains that are set to be installed county-wide in the coming weeks.
The new filtered water station is located at the Civic Plaza, outside County Hall, in Tallaght, with members of the public encouraged to re-fill their re-usable water bottle.
Ger Staunton from the council’s Environment, Water and Climate Change department testing out the new water fountain at Civic Square
According to South Dublin County Council: “Public water fountains are aimed at supporting wellbeing and healthier lifestyle choices, promoting active travel options and encouraging the use of reusable flasks and bottles over single-use plastics.”
In the coming weeks, eight additional water fountains are due to be installed at the Civic Plaza, Clondalkin, the Triangle, Lucan Village, the athletics track in Griffeen Valley and the Playground in Tymon Park.
Stations will also be introduced at Rathfarnham Castle, Main Street, Rathcoole, the Playground in Waterstown Park and Corkagh Park.
At Monday’s council meeting, Rathfarnham-Templeogue councillor Carly Bailey asked management if a ‘dummy’ water fountain temporarily located at the Limekiln entrance of Tymon Park would be replaced with a permanent public water station.
According to Cllr Bailey (Social Democrats): “There was huge disappointment when it was learned that this was just temporary and understandably there is now a large expectation that a permanent public water fountain will be placed back in this area.”
In its reply, council management confirmed that arrangements are now being put in place to purchase a further eight units, with locations for these water fountains currently under consideration.
The council said: “Locations for [a further eight fountains] are being examined and considered and it is proposed that one of the units will be installed at the Tymon Park/Limekiln car park location where the ‘dummy’ unit was installed temporarily earlier in the year.”
The Public Water Fountains provision are an action of South Dublin County Council’s Climate Change Action Plan 2019 – 2024, which was also launched this week.
The Climate Change Plan identifies the main climate risks facing South Dublin County and includes targets such as a 33 per cent improvement in the council’s energy efficiency by 2020.
The plan also aims to actively engage and inform citizens on climate change.
