TapIt is an organization that was founded in New York City in 2008 to form a water bottle refilling network for people on the go. Instead of stopping into the store to buy a plastic bottle filled with water, New Yorkers are instead encouraged to carry reusable bottles where ever they go. (They would look so chic with a Hydro Flask, methinks!) The café owners sign up as partners to provide free tap water. They have developed a sophisticated search and mapping feature for computers and smart phone, and they even have a “TapIt Water” iPhone App to locate participating cafes.
TapIt is looking to take its vision across the U.S. and it always looking to partner with people looking to start a local water movement in their own towns. They support finding new and sustainable solutions for the 21st century. Check out their website and blog for more information.
It seems we could easily make this happen in Bend, OR, where most residents are conscious of how precious our water is; that almost all water we consume comes directly from the Deschutes River, and that this river is noticeably smaller as it leaves down.
Anyone interested in helping me get something like this started, drop me a line a news@hydroflask.com.
Pictured above: the Deschutes River courtesy of the Daily Green.
