RefillNZ – location data of all the public water fountains throughout NZ

At RefillNZ we have been ‘working’ with councils to get location data of all the public water fountains throughout NZ on the RefillNZ map and App, so it’s easier to find somewhere to get ‘free water’.

Unfortunately the findings show there is room for improvement – on average, New Zealand has only one drinking fountain for every 3,303 people and as few as one fountain for every 17,000 people in the worst-affected area.

• Not only are drinking fountains often hard to find, sometimes they are not well-maintained – a significant deterrent to people using them ☹.
• As few as one in five children’s playgrounds, and less than one in 10 parks, have water fountains.
• Data shows low-income communities often have fewer public drinking fountains per person than more economically affluent areas, reducing choice and affecting Māori and Pasifika health outcomes.

 This means it’s often easier for people to buy a bottled drink than find a water fountain.

 Yet over 50 per cent of people surveyed in Auckland* said they would drink more water when out and about if there were more drinking fountains.

Our findings are supported by research from Wai Auckland on people’s attitudes to drinking fountains and water.