National
Bundy water now on tap
On Saturday 26 September 2009, Bundanoon, in the picturesque Southern Highlands of NSW, became the first town in Australia, and possibly the world, to go bottled water free.
At a community meeting in July, residents made history by voting 355 to 1 in favour of stopping the sale of still bottled water in their town. The landmark vote created a global firestorm of publicity.
As of Saturday, Bundanoon’s switchover became complete as the ‘Bundy on Tap’ initiative was formally launched. On that day, the very last bottles of still water was pulled from the shelves and fridges and the new alternatives will be put in place:
1. Shops will only sell refillable water bottles. The basic ‘Bundy on Tap’ bottle is only $3.50
2. The reusable bottles can be refilled in-store free of charge with chilled filtered water. They can also be refilled free of charge on the street from the 4 new hi-tech filtered water stations. These filtered water stations are open 24 hours a day.
3. School kids can fill up their bottles free of charge via the filtered water station in the Bundanoon primary school.
4. A commemorative ‘Bundy on Tap’ refillable ‘Better Bottle’ from Camelbak will be on sale for $29.
Bundy on Tap spokesperson Huw Kingston said, “As was demonstrated by the intense media interest from all around the world, it’s extremely heartening that our small town has become an international role model for grassroots action. As politicians grapple with the issue of climate change, we should never forget that each and every one of us can make a real difference at the very local level.”
“Here in Bundanoon, our aim is to show the Australian and global community, that we no longer have to pay the financial and environmental cost of bottled water,” said Kingston.
Jon Dee, Bundy on Tap spokesperson and founder of action group Do Something said, “The new alternatives will ensure that residents and visitors will save money and always have access to great drinking water – but without the environmental price of bottled water. What’s also great is that the retailers will continue to make money by selling refillable bottles.”
“We’re hoping that Australians will look at Bundanoon and realise that they don’t have to spend half a billion dollars a year on bottled water – they should drink from the tap or water bubblers instead,” said Dee.
As part of Saturday’s launch, the hi-tech filtered water stations will be turned on in the main street and school. Do Something organised for the water stations and filters to be donated by Street Furniture Australia and Culligan Water. Camelbak has also donated 2,000 Camelbak Better Bottles™. The NSW Government through its Community Economic Development Program assisted with funding for the initiative.
