Report to: Environment Committee, 23rd July 2019

Report of: Corporate Director - Place

Subject: PUBLIC DRINKING WATER FOUNTAINS – PILOT PROJECT IN WORCESTER CITY CENTRE

1. Recommendation

1.1 That the Committee approves the installation of 2 public drinking water fountains in the city centre as a pilot project.

1.2 That the project be reviewed and assessed over a 12 month period.

1.3 That Committee delegate to the Corporate Director Place in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of this Committee to agree the final design and location for the drinking water fountains.

2. Background

2.1 The concept for the project came from Member suggestions for small projects. As a result of this process a £15,000 budget was established to assess the feasibility and to install a pilot scheme if practicable. The aims of this project are two fold. Firstly to promote healthy lifestyles by providing fresh water as an easy to obtain and free alternative to other forms of drink, and; secondly to reduce the use of single use plastics by providing an alternative form of hydration based on reusable bottles and/or drinking from a fountain.

2.2 Discussions on public water drinking fountains with Severn Trent Water (STW), the water authority covering the Worcester area, have taken place. In these discussions STW have indicated that their corporate stance is they do not support the installation of drinking fountains, and raised concerns of Water quality issues; Misuse and vandalism; Ongoing maintenance and; Process for installation (getting all necessary consents).

2.3 It should be noted that as a result of this engagement the City Council has collaborated with STW in promoting their re-fill scheme to businesses within the city centre where free water is available for residents and visitors to top up re-usable containers. To date over 50 businesses in Worcester have agreed to participate in the scheme. The re-fill and water drinking fountain projects are considered to be complimentary but both need to be assessed in terms of the impact and take-up.

2.4 STW have a regulatory process (concerning notice of intended works and quality standards for water drinking fountains and all fittings which must be followed in order to do this). STW also recommends using a Watersafe approved plumber to carry out the installation works.

2.5 Invitation to quote to supply and install a water fountain to all local plumbers who are shown as registered under the WaterSafe registration scheme and shown on the WaterSafe website was sent out. Only one response was received indicating an interest in undertaking the works.

2.6 The costs involved in such a project are set up costs (purchase of equipment, installation of equipment, connection to the water main and consent from STW) as well as ongoing costs (water charges for supply/drainage, water quality monitoring, plus any maintenance requirements) and come to circa £7,209. These costs are detailed in full in section 5.1 below.

2.7 Since 2017 non-householders have had the ability to choose who provides their water. The City Council’s current water supplier is Water Plus and will provide the water for the drinking water fountain under the existing City Council contract.

3. Preferred Option

3.1 The preferred option is to install two water drinking fountains and review after 12 months.

3.2 For delegation to the Chair and Vice-Chair of Environment Committee to agree the final design and final location of the drinking water fountain (see appendices to show examples of products).

3.3 It is recommended that the water drinking fountain should have the function to re-fill water bottles as well as allow drinking direct from a fountain.

3.4 The suggested location is for it to be positioned close to the junction of High Street and Pump Street (dependent on proximity of water supply) as this is an area of high footfall (which would ensure it is prominent and easily accessible) and has historical relevance (Pump Street). The second suggested location is on Broad Street in an area of high footfall to maximise impact. Appendix 2 provides current footfall data.

3.5 The indicative cost for the provision and installation of one water drinking fountain is circa £7,000 to £8,000 with STW costs of connection being the largest range of variance (£600 to £2,000) dependent on complexity of connection (these costs will not be know until exploratory connection works are undertaken).

3.6 During the pilot scheme monitoring of water usage, water quality, days operational, customer feedback, etc. will be undertaken to assess the merits of the scheme. This will then be reported back to Environment Committee for Members to consider an appropriate approach to potential next stages of the scheme with regard to the provision of water drinking fountain(s) within the City.

4. Alternative Options Considered

4.1 Decrease number of drinking water fountains

The funding allocation will enable 2 drinking fountains to be installed during the pilot period.

However, it should be noted that this would not allow for any contingency for repairs or remediation costs to the drinking water fountain during the pilot period.

It may also result in pressures on the budget, subject to STW connection charges as discussed at para 3.5, there is therefore a budget challenge in ensuring the provision of the most aesthetically pleasing and robust type of drinking water fountain. To mitigate these risks members could procced with installing one installation which would reduce impact but would leave sufficient budget to cover unforeseen issues and should the pilot prove unsuccessful the removal of the installation at the end of the pilot period.

4.2 Continue with STW re-fill initiative

There is an existing free water bottle re-fill scheme operating in Worcester, through which a number of pubs, cafes and restaurants in the city centre offer facilities for the free fill up of water bottles.

The re-fill scheme was launched in the city centre in January 2019 with the support of Severn Trent Water. The re-fill scheme satisfies two of the key drivers for drinking water fountains, including hydrating the population and reduction in single use plastics.

The two projects are considered complimentary to each other.

5. Implications

5.1 Financial and Budgetary Implications

The project has a budget allocation of £15,000 from a budget amendment as part of the 18/19 budget approval.

The following costs are applicable:

Ongoing Revenue Costs per year

Water Charges per year / 100 litres per day £220

Maintenance of water fountain Covered by existing contract

Water quality testing and monitoring – 4 x £75 (existing contract)

£300

Total £520

Please note the water consumption figures have been based on information provided by Scottish Water, who indicated they have water consumption data that shows a range of 10 – 100 litres per day consumption. The amount of water consumption varies considerably due to the location of the drinking fountain, footfall, weather conditions, public knowledge of the facility, and behaviour change. Therefore the highest usage scenario has been used to calculate the annual revenue costs.

Cost Profile for year 1 per water drinking fountain:

Cost area Cost Notes

Severn Trent Water Initial Fee £140

Severn Trent Connection Fee £1,000 Dependent on complexity of works ranging between £600 to £2,000

Installation Fee £2,800 May vary depending on the product chosen

Product Cost £1,999 Based on drinking fountain and bottle re-fill design as shown in Appendices of the report. Products range in price typically from £1,000 t0 £2,000.

Groundworks to connect £750 Including labour and materials

Revenue costs £520 Water supply and water testing, guarantee on products / works

Total Year 1 Costs £7,209 Based on product as shown in Appendices of the report

It should be noted that the above costs do not include any contingency, repair or remediation costs. Should these cost be incurred this will create an in year budget pressure which will need to be met within the service.

It is suggested that the design of the drinking water fountain should incorporate the ability to drink and re-fill water bottles and be robust and aesthetically pleasing.

5.2 Legal and Governance Implications

Severn Trent Water have confirmed the responsibility for water quality and water quality testing, including the frequency of testing on the private plumbing system, would sit with the City Council as owner of the drinking fountain. It is the intention to use the City Council’s existing water quality testing contract to ensure the water quality remains of an appropriate standard of quality.

A possible legal implication is if someone were to do something to the fountain that may cause someone coming after them who drinks from it to become ill. This could be mitigated through visual daily inspection by the City Centre Team.

It should be noted that the installation of a drinking water fountain by the City Council is ‘permitted development’ under the terms of Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 and as such, would not require the submission of a planning application.

5.3 Risk Implications

The key risks involve water quality issues, which may be mitigated through a robust and thorough procedure for regular water quality testing.

There are also risks of misuse and vandalism, which may be mitigated to some extent through robust product design and siting the facility in an area of high footfall and also covered by CCTV cameras. But evidence from elsewhere shows these facilities are generally used by people for the purposes for which they were intended and very little misuse takes place.

5.4 Corporate/Policy Implications

None

5.5 Equality Implications

The design of the product must cater for all users.

5.6 Human Resources Implications

None

5.7 Health and Safety Implications

Water quality testing is the key health and safety consideration, for which a robust and thorough process must be in place.

5.8 Social, Environmental and Economic Implications

Social – public fountains will be easy to use for consumers, and provide a safe source of free, healthy drinking water. The health benefits of public access to drinking water are well documented.

Environmental - by introducing public drinking water fountains Worcester City Council will be sending out a positive environmental message promoting reduction in single use plastic bottles.

Economic – the environmental issues associated with single use plastics have associated economic costs of dealing with those plastics – principally recycling / waste alongside environmental. Initiatives aimed at reducing the amount of those plastics in the environment, if effective, also reduce the associated economic costs.

Ward(s): CathedralContact Officer: Mark Radford – Economic Development Officer – Tel:

01905 722258; email – mark.radford@worcester.gov.uk Background Papers: None

Appendix 1 – Examples of fountains

SCOTLAND

BRISTOL

LONDON

Outdoor Bottle Filler

Available in Stainless Steel, Green, Blue or Red

Outdoor Pedestal Bottle Filler With Drinking Fountain

Available in Stainless Steel, Green, Blue or Red

Appendix 2