For the past several years, UofL has upgraded campus drinking water fountains to include spigots to fill reusable water bottles. Now, five UofL buildings feature signage encouraging students, faculty and staff to “get back to the tap.”
The fountains are in UofL’s College of Business, Ekstrom Library, Strickler Hall, Swain Student Activities Center and West Belknap Student Recreation Center.
Louisville Water Company and UofL’s Sustainability Council already were working on education outreach when they hit upon the idea of posting an educational message above the drinking water fountains.
“UofL is trying to reduce waste, save money, tap into local resources and keep people healthy,” said Justin Mog, UofL’s assistant to the provost for sustainability initiatives. “What could be more emblematic of that goal than dropping the disposable bottled water habit and filling up with Louisville’s award-winning tap water?”
Louisville Water also is teaming up with UofL’s Sustainability Council and the student group GRASS (Group Recycling and Sustainability Solutions) to offer campus educational events promoting sustainable practices.
“We are excited to expand our outreach on campus,” said Jim Brammell, Louisville Water’s President and CEO. “UofL’s green initiative is right in line with the goal of the Louisville pure tap program.”
There’s an economic value to getting back to the tap. Filling a glass 60 times with Louisville’s tap water costs just a penny, and getting the recommended eight glasses of water a day from the tap costs around 50 cents annually compared to $1,500 for buying bottled water.
Louisville Water’s partnership with UofL is its largest Louisville pure tap effort so far. The company also has added messaging above fountains at Louisville Zoo, Waterfront Park, KFC Yum! Center and Louisville Metro Public Health Department.
