Man’s campaign to bring back water fountains to city’s parks

WATER fountains could be returning to Cardiff parks to help cut the use of plastic bottles.

Keen runner and cyclist, Dafydd Trystan, from Grangetown, wrote to council leader Huw Thomas asking him to look into installing fountains which are both people- and pet-friendly.

“It has been an idea of mine since I went to Valencia,” he said. “There, in the middle of parks, they have free fountains for runners and tourists. I wanted to know if we could do that for Cardiff.”

He said while runners and cyclists are keen to use reusable bottles, there aren’t enough places to refill them.

He said he has spoken to a number of local runners who are eager to be more environmentally friendly but don’t have the opportunity to do so.

“It got me thinking whether we could bring back municipal water fountains as the Victorians introduced around Cardiff.

“I’ve done some research into how expensive they are and they don’t work out to be too highly priced,” he said.

Estimates are about £3,000, he said. He hope people would be willing to make a contribution if they use the fountains.

“It could cut the use of single-use bottles and make Cardiff healthier,” he said.

Dr Trystan looked at a site near the barrage, but the cost was too high. Instead, the rollout should start in city parks.

He has used the example of Belle Vue Park in Penarth for his research.

In 2014, a fountain with three levels was put in place which had a vertical stream from which people can drink, a bottle filling facility and a special drinking bowl for dogs at the base.

Dr Trystan said Dwr Cymru has initiatives where reusable bottles are handed out at events and hopes it too would come on board to help with the proposal.

Cardiff council cabinet member Michael Michael responded to Dr Trystan’s letter on behalf of the authority.

He said: “We are currently investigating the possible reintroduction of water fountains in parts of the city and we are in talks with partners to see if a scheme is feasible. I’m very keen to look at ways in which we can reduce single-use plastic useage in the city and this idea could help if we can make it work.”