Water fountains coming to Schuylkill River Trail

Runners, cyclists, or just people enjoying a stroll or taking their dog for a walk along the Schuylkill River Trail have just one water faucet available to them north of Boathouse Row, and that one is way up there, near the Strawberry Mansion Bridge.

That's about to change.

The Philadelphia Water Department announced Friday that next spring, it will install four water stations on that popular stretch on the east side of the river, from Boathouse Row to East Falls. And these will not be your typical water fountains: They will be high-tech affairs, even if they will only dispense tap.

The water stations will hold a traditional fountain, two spigots for refilling water bottles, and a bowl at ground level for pets. More are planned for Center City and Fairmount Park.

The displays on the fountains will urge pedestrians to choose tap water over bottled water because tap is greener, cheaper, and safer.

It's all part of an environmentally friendly effort to reduce the number of disposable plastic water bottles littering the Schuylkill and its banks.

The Water Department said the majority of the litter removed from the city's waterways is composed of plastics, most often water bottles. Last year, the city removed 1,024 pounds of water-bottle litter from its waterways.

To get things going, the Water Department will give away more than 12,000 reusable water bottles at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta this weekend. Water tanks will be available to fill the bottles with tap.

Alan Robinson, a regatta board member and chair of the Schuylkill Navy's river stewards committee, said he thought of doing something after noticing the number of plastic bottles fished out of the river during April's Schuylkill Navy cleanup. So, he brought the regatta and the Schuylkill Navy together with the Water Department.

Robinson said the many plastic bottles tossed on city streets eventually make their way into storm drains and from there into the city's rivers.

Ellen Carver, president of the regatta, said she has seen rowers toss empty bottles into the water during races.

"It's not the right thing to do, but I've seen it happen a lot," she said.

"Drinking water is a good thing," said Mayor Nutter, who spoke at the announcement, attended by city officials and other leaders. "It's about the bottles."

JTomczuk@phillynews.com @JackTomczuk