A new business in Halifax is aiming to connect people with free water and, at the same time, cut down on the environmental waste from the bottled variety.
Accessible tap water can be difficult to find when you are out and about, which provided the motivation for two Halifax men to create a new company called Tap.
“I found myself super thirsty and in a city that has amazing tap water and I was kind of stuck with only one option,” says co-owner Stephen Flynn.
Not wanting to walk in off the street and ask for water without making a purchase, the only option was bottled water.
“We did a lot of research and found out that the main reason that people drink bottled water is out of convenience, so we want to create a network that is as reliable and as convenient as bottled water,” says Flynn.
The Tap app allows users to locate nearby water refill stations within five seconds. Flynn and his business partner say they hope their app will tap into local business and fill in the gaps with no stigma and no pressure to buy.
“Being able to have people just come in for that, but also know that they're a spot that they can fill their water up at is just good for everybody,” says Danielle Archer, café manager.
Flynn says it's easy for businesses to sign up. Just a few clicks on the website drinktap.ca and they can become an authorized refill station.
The app has been available for less than a month and 40 businesses within the Halifax area are already participating.
“Could possibly even get someone inside your business that's never even been inside,” says Flynn.
Flynn and his partner are selling water bottles to make money, but users are not required to purchase one in order to sign up for free.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Kayla Hounsell
