Last year, the Portland Water District announced the creation of a grant program that offers free water bottle-filling fountains to local entities. Twenty-six applications for grants were received, and the Board of Trustees awarded four water bottle filling stations to Saint Joseph’s College in Standish), the YMCA in Portland, Portland Transit Authority Portland, and Greely High School in Cumberland.

Saint Joseph’s College is the first recipient to install the station. The filling station in the busy Harold Alfond Center was fully operational as of Jan. 10. (In the 2012-2013 academic year more than 70,000 visitors used the facility.)

“We are fortunate in Greater Portland to have a superb public water supply,” stated Portland Water District board President Guy Cote. “With these grants, we want to promote the area’s great tap water and encourage others to help expand access to it.” At Saint Joseph’s College, the Eco-Reps, a student group that promotes sustainable behavior, has embraced the fountain and is encouraging its use by subsidizing branded water bottles and T-shirts.

Members of the Saint Joseph’s College’s Eco-Reps, a student group that promotes sustainable behavior on campus, are proud of the water bottle filling station’s installation, and hope to further promote drinking tap water and conserving resources to members of the College community. Pictured, from left, in front, are Nhu Vo, Shradha Miller, Mary Rose Becker. In back, from left, are Casey Lotti, Clint Chandler, Sarah Bakun, Nicole Ouellette and Robert Michaud. 

Last year, the Portland Water District announced the creation of a grant program that offers free water bottle-filling fountains to local entities. Twenty-six applications for grants were received, and the Board of Trustees awarded four water bottle filling stations to Saint Joseph’s College in Standish), the YMCA in Portland, Portland Transit Authority Portland, and Greely High School in Cumberland.

Saint Joseph’s College is the first recipient to install the station. The filling station in the busy Harold Alfond Center was fully operational as of Jan. 10. (In the 2012-2013 academic year more than 70,000 visitors used the facility.)

“We are fortunate in Greater Portland to have a superb public water supply,” stated Portland Water District board President Guy Cote. “With these grants, we want to promote the area’s great tap water and encourage others to help expand access to it.” At Saint Joseph’s College, the Eco-Reps, a student group that promotes sustainable behavior, has embraced the fountain and is encouraging its use by subsidizing branded water bottles and T-shirts.

Members of the Saint Joseph’s College’s Eco-Reps, a student group that promotes sustainable behavior on campus, are proud of the water bottle filling station’s installation, and hope to further promote drinking tap water and conserving resources to members of the College community. Pictured, from left, in front, are Nhu Vo, Shradha Miller, Mary Rose Becker. In back, from left, are Casey Lotti, Clint Chandler, Sarah Bakun, Nicole Ouellette and Robert Michaud.