If visiting pavilions all day has made you thirsty, you can refill your water bottle with ice cold water at multiple stations at the Expo 2020 Dubai.
PepsiCo and Aquafina have set up seven water stations across the event site to not only help with sustainable water consumption but also promote hydration habits.
The main structure, called The Drop, looks like a giant droplet of water and it is located in the Sustainability District with a focus on eco-friendly water consumption. Similar stations are set up in the Terra Pavilion and Sports Zone.
Free unlimited refills
Inside the building, which is hard to miss because it is made using 41,000 recyclable aluminium cans, there is an automated water dispenser machine that gives people unlimited refills of water when they step inside with their own water bottles. A flask made of stainless steel can also be purchased at The Drop, helping reduced the use of plastic bottles and cups.
A nano filter provides both still and sparkling water, as well as flavour and temperature customisations.
“It encourages people to drink water. As soon as you make the hydration process fun, it gets people involved and gets them to drink more water,” said Merve Cetinturk, project manager at PepsiCo.
Making water consumption sustainable
Speaking about how the process helps environmental goals and ties with Expo’s theme of sustainability, Cetinturk said: “You are eliminating the usage of plastic bottles, you are encouraging people to reuse more and more.”
The machine also tells users the amount that was filled into the bottle, therefore making it easier for people to track how much they have had.
“It also helps people achieve their daily water intake targets. The idea is similar to counting your steps for fitness purposes,” she added.
