CITY BEGINS ‘FLORENCE H2O ON THE GO’ PROGRAM

FLORENCE, OR – The City of Florence Public Works Department has launched the new Florence H2O On The Go Program, an initiative designed to make staying hydrated at community events easier, more sustainable, and more affordable for everyone. As part of this program, the City has purchased two portable water bottle filling stations, known as WaterMonsters, for use at major outdoor gatherings such as the annual Florence Community Block Party on July 17, Florence Police Department’s National Night Out on August 4, and other City-sponsored events. This purchase was funded by a grant from The Roundhouse Foundation with support from the City of Florence Environmental Management Advisory Committee (EMAC). The City’s WaterMonsters are 125-gallon (equal to 1,000 16 oz. water bottles) water stations that will provide free, clean drinking water for event participants, encouraging the use of reusable bottles and reducing single- use plastic waste.

By introducing H2O On The Go, the City is:
• Promoting healthy hydration for families, children, and older adults.
• Reducing event waste by cutting down on single-use plastics.
• Supporting Florence’s recycling goals and community wellness initiatives.
• Serving as educational tools for sustainability and stewardship.

Since these water stations are connected to local public water sources, for the first year of the H2O Program, these will be available only at City-sponsored events to ensure quality control. The City encourages community members to bring their reusable bottles and look for the H2O on the Go water filling stations at community events this summer. Learn more now at https://www.ci.florence.or.us/844/Florence-H2O-on-the-Go.

About WaterMonster
Based in Austin, Texas, WaterMonster, https://watermonster.us/, was established to create a smarter, cleaner way to keep large groups hydrated. The result was the first WaterMonster: a lightweight, stackable, refillable tank that could serve thousands of people with minimal effort and zero waste.

About RoundHouse Foundation
The Roundhouse Foundation, https://roundhousefoundation.org, is dedicated to supporting programs that inspire creativity, connect people with each other and their sense of place, and ensure sustainability for the long-term economic success of Oregon’s rural communities.

Included photo: Caption
City of Florence Public Works Utility Worker Brett West shows the City’s two new WaterMonster units that are part of the H2O On The Go Program. Each 125-gallon water station can fill up to 1,000 16 oz. water bottles. (Photo by Britte Kirsch/City of Florence EMAC Chairperson)