Water coolers and drinking fountains Blog
Spain underscores its confidence in the public water system by promoting free drinking fountains and water dispensers
Water coolers. News 01/08/2022Spain will restore its tradition of providing free drinking water on the street and in hotel establishments thanks to the new Waste Act. This latest legislation establishes that, in order to reduce the consumption of plastic and promote the circular economy, bars must offer a free water service to their customers and institutions must promote access to drinking water in both public and private spaces. With the aim of reducing pollution, the use of this type of water dispenser is set to increase.
The Waste Act (published in the Official State Gazette under No. 7/2022) states that, in order to "reduce the consumption of single-use containers, public administrations shall promote the consumption of drinking water in their premises and other public spaces" through safe and hygienic drinking water fountains and water dispensers.
This battery of measures underscores the confidence of public authorities in the country's water system and will instill the same confidence in the general public. Canaletas—a leading company in the manufacture of water coolers and water dispensers in Spain—has specialized in this sector since it was created in 1965. The Catalan company has managed to position itself as a benchmark in the sector thanks to its products, most of which have an average useful life of close to 30 years.
Canaletas is an expert in both drinking water fountains and water dispensers connected to the water system. The water coolers, which are adapted to the space in which they are to be installed, allow a recommended purification filter to be installed to improve the quality of the water. Moreover, the Catalan company's water dispensers need only be connected to the water and electricity supply to fulfill their function.
These facilities have been part of the daily lives of members of the public in recent decades. This is especially true in hot regions, where water fountains have become meeting points for passers-by, company workers or students. However, with the appearance of plastic, restriction measures in times of drought or even the health risk during the Covid-19 pandemic, they have been used to a somewhat lesser degree.
Spain: a benchmark in the EU
The new Waste Act complies with EU guidelines, and it should be noted that the European Commission has already asked the States to promote the consumption of water both from taps and water dispensers and fountains. Areas such as Madrid, according to data from Canal de Isabel II, consider that 96% of members of the public drink tap water, underscoring the importance of ensuring the public’s access to this service.
On a Europe-wide level, a survey in 2020 by the European Commission indicated that only 55% of EU citizens drank tap water. Despite such a figure, which is low compared to areas like Madrid, Canaletas has managed to expand across the five continents thanks to the perceived quality and safety of its products. This Catalan company is the leader in its field and is the first company in the sector to pass the EBWA sanitation tests and the only one to pass them all.
Moreover, proof of its relevance at an international level is that it has managed to reach 40% of business exports in this expansion across the five continents. One of the areas with the greatest impact is that of the Arab countries, where the high temperatures and the quality of the product have allowed Canaletas to allocate 23% of its exports in 2021.
In the coming months and especially in 2023, Canaletas will have a much more optimistic horizon before it. The trust of citizens in public water fountains and the need for hoteliers and companies to encourage water consumption through water dispensers will open up a greater range of demand with the aim of reducing the short-lived use of plastics.