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Report To: General Government Committee
Date of Meeting: September 25, 2017
Report Number: OPD -008-2017 Resolution:
File Number:
By-law Number:
Report Subject: Water Distribution System and Reusable Water Bottles
Recommendations:
1. That Report OPD -008-2017 be received;
2. That Council consider either Option A, being the rental of a system to distribute
water at special events and festivals or Option B, the purchase of a water filling
station for the same purposes; and
3. That Council provide direction to staff respecting the preferred option and also the
amount to be included in the 2018 budget.
Municipality of Clarington
Report OPD -008-2017 Page 2
Report Overview
This report provides background on current municipal initiatives that are focused towards the
reduction of single -use plastic water bottles by the public. Discussion addresses the request
by Council for the investigation of a water filling station to distribute municipal water and
reusable water bottles at festivals or during emergencies.
1. Background
At the regularly scheduled meeting held on July 3, 2017, Council passed resolution #GG -
367 -2017. This resolution specifically directed staff to:
1. Investigate the purchase of a system to distribute water at festivals or during
emergencies; and
2. That staff work towards AppleFest with other governments, business and other
agencies to provide funding for the promotion of reusable steel water bottles.
2. Proposal
The need for a way to encourage the use of municipal tap water in lieu of single -use
plastic water bottles has long been a topic of consideration by Ontario municipalities. As
a means to further promote the mandate many municipalities in the Province have either
developed promotional campaigns, implemented restrictions or placed outright bans on
the use of single -use plastic water bottles while on public property or within municipal
buildings. At present, the municipality of Clarington has elected only to discourage the
use of single -use plastic water bottles at Council and Committee meetings and also within
municipally operated facilities.
More recently, many municipalities have also begun to promote municipal tap water and
reusable beverage containers at local festivals and special events. Water filling stations
have now become commercially available in a variety of sizes and configurations. These
units are set-up at an event and supplied with water from a municipally approved source
using a drinking water quality hose similar to those used for recreational vehicles. Units
are also constructed such that they provide additional filtration, further chill the water and
remain fully accessible to children and people with disabilities. The municipalities that
have implemented the use of water filling stations suggest that the main benefits
achieved beyond having people hydrate with healthy municipal tap water is a decrease in
the amount of waste generated, a decrease in the consumption of non-renewable
resources, a decrease in the carbon footprint and the ability to save taxpayer dollars.
Municipality of Clarington
Report OPD -008-2017 Page 3
As experienced earlier this spring during the flooding problems on Cedar Crest Beach, a
water filling station may also prove useful during emergencies. For a one-week period
the Municipality of Clarington borrowed the Town of Ajax's 300 -gallon "Quench Buggy" to
assist with the provision of potable water for local residents (see attachment 1). Of
particular note, the operation of the Quench Buggy required that the Fire Chief complete
2-3 tests of the on -board water reserve each day to ensure that sufficient levels of
chlorine remained present. A more intensive program of inspection and maintenance, as
mandated by the Durham Region Health Department, will also be required by Operations
staff during the future operation of any water filling station at special events or local
festivals. Specific operational tasks will include the cleaning of the unit prior to each use,
the testing of the water as frequently as every hour and the requirement of staff to remain
on-site at all times with the unit to ensure that the water source is not tampered with.
Based on a general review of the industry it has been determined that only one known
manufacturer of a mobile water filling station exists that has an onboard water tank. It is
estimated that the 8 -station water filling/drinking unit (Quench Buggy) can be rented for
$1,000 per day. Alternatively, the same unit can be purchased for approximately
$55,000. Other available purchase options include a "Quench Cart" at a cost of
approximately $20,000 or a "Filtered Water Refill Station" for approximately $4,500 (see
attachment 1). These units are much smaller in size and also have fewer water filling
stations that may result in customer lineups if water demands are high. Similar to all
other units that have been found on the market the Quench Cart and the Filtered Water
Refill Station are direct feed designs that do not have an on -board water reserve tank
thereby making them unsuitable for water supply purposes during emergencies. The
Quench Cart design is also less portable as it needs to be transported to each site on a
flatbed truck or trailer rather than being towed. Current owners of the larger Quench
Buggy include, amongst others, the Town of Ajax, Kingston Utilities, City of Guelph, City
of London, City of Windsor, Peterborough Utilities and Collingwood Utilities.
Funding for the rental of a water filling station for each municipally supported special
event or festival could be introduced into the annual current budget as a new level of
service. If units are readily available for rent it is realistic that based on the type of
functions that are held throughout Clarington each year as many as 20 rentals will be
required at a total cost of up to $20,000. The purchase of a water filling station, however,
could be investigated further in collaboration and partnership with the Business
Improvement Areas and the major festival organizers. In an effort to further offset the
purchase price for the Municipality and it's potential partner's; consideration could also be
given to the submission of an application for an Ontario Trillium Foundation or a Healthy
Kids Community Challenge grant.
The funding and promotion of reusable steel water bottles with other governments,
business and other agencies as directed by Council is currently being investigated by the
Municipality of Clarington
Report OPD -008-2017 Page 4
Mayor's office. As deemed necessary by Council, the reusable bottles could be ready for
distribution to the public at AppleFest on Saturday, October 14, 2017, or kept for a later
date so as to coincide with the possible introduction of a new water filling station.
3. Concurrence
This report was reviewed by the Director of Finance/Treasurer who concurs with the
recommendations.
4. Conclusion
It is respectfully recommended that Council consider the rental or purchase of a water
filling station and to provide direction to staff for inclusion in the 2018 budget.
5. Strategic Plan Application
Recommendations in this report support Strategic Plan initiatives for the promotion of
good governance and value for the tax dollar and also resident engagement in our
community.
Submitted by. Reviewed by:
Frederick J. Horvath Andrew C. Allison, B. Comm, LL.B
Director of Operations CAO
Staff Contact: Stephen Brake, Manager of Operations, 905-263-2291 or
sbrake@clarington.net
Attachment 1
to Report OPD -008-2017
Municipality of Clarington
Quench Buggy
Attachment 1
to Report OPD -008-2017
Municipality of Clarington
Quench Cart
Filtered Water Refill Station
Municipality of Clarington
Attachment 1
to Report OPD -008-2017
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