9-year-old’s grand plan to bring our city up to date

Lilah O’Leary is determined to double Auckland’s water fountains by the end of the year, writes

Asimple observation while on holiday in Europe spurted a grand ambition for 9-year-old Lilah O’Leary — to double the number of drinking-water fountains in Auckland.

While gazing at a large bank of public water fountains in Warsaw, slurped at by human and dog alike, Takapuna resident Lilah noticed that similar scenes were remarkably absent from her homeland.

In fact, the budding Year 4 environmentalist rarely recalls seeing a single water fountain at most parks and playgrounds she visited in Auckland.

“Before this, I had never really thought about water that much but I couldn’t help but notice there was a very noticeable increase in water fountains overseas.

“I also noticed that people were filling up big plastic bottles that otherwise would be single-use, and I thought that was a really cool idea, because so much plastic goes into the ocean.

“So when we came back to New

Zealand we started researching, and found out that Auckland is very behind on the amount of water fountains.”

The Auckland Council region has only 370 public water fountains in total — equating to one for every 4480 residents.

In contrast, Brisbane has a water fountain for every 1600 residents, and Melbourne has one water fountain per 1125 residents.

This discrepancy has motivated Lilah, with help from mum Kate, to conceive the Public Water Project.

Their fundraising three-pronged.

Firstly, have a multitude of companies sign up to sponsor $10,000 to install a new public drinking-water fountain — which will be gifted to the 84 per cent of Auckland’s parks without a single one.

Secondly, a competition will be run with local schools to design artwork to be printed on the fountain to raise community awareness and pride in the fountain installation.

Thirdly, a series of environmentally appropriate collectables for aim is

I noticed that people were filling up big plastic bottles that otherwise would be single use, and I thought that was a really cool idea. Lilah O’Leary, environmentalist