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Example of a ProAqua Drinking Fountain (canopy not included)
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Additional Information Provided by ProAcqua
So what exactly is a ProAcqua water machine?
ProAcqua machines are an innovative yet simple concept and the first of its kind in Australia.
Put very simply, it is the modern high-tech version of a public drinking fountain. It provides
exceptional tasting, fresh, refrigerated still or sparkling water at a tiny fraction of the cost of
traditional bottled water.
Our aim is to provide the public with a real alternative to bottled water, while focusing on the
protection of the environment through the reduction of both plastic waste and greenhouse gas
emissions.
How does it work?
To use a ProAcqua water machine, you will need 2 simple things:
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Your own reusable bottle
A ProAcqua smartcard (purchased from nearby outlets)
Simply insert your card, choose your preferred water (still or sparkling), the desired amount
(500ml, 1 litre or 1.5 litre), then fill up your bottle. It’s as simple as that!
So how much does it cost?
A regular 500ml bottle of water can cost anywhere from between $2.50 to $4.00. ProAcqua
offers this same water more than 90% cheaper! Our still or sparkling water costs are as follows:
500 mL: 25 cents
1 Litre: 40 cents
1.5 Litre: 50 cents
How can we provide the water so cheap? Because there are no bottling, packaging or transport
costs!
What kind of water does it provide? Is it hygienic?
ProAcqua water is exceptional quality and tastes as good (if not better) than traditional bottled
water! Not only is it refrigerated, there is the option of both still or sparkling water. ProAcqua
water is both micro filtered and sanitized through a UV decontamination process ensuring a safe
and high quality filtered water supply.
Our dispensing nozzle contains a further UV sanitizing light to ensure there is NO bacterial
cross-contamination, as can happen with ordinary drinking fountains. This process is
continuously computer monitored.
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Why is buying bottled water a problem?
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It costs you money, and lots of it! Australians spend more than $500 million a year on
bottled water. Although people often complain about the price of petrol, we spend MORE
per litre on bottled water. If the average Australian were to buy one 500ml bottle of water
per day over an 11 month period, it will cost approximately $1,000 per year for 167.5 Litres
of water, a total cost of $4,000 for the average Australian family (670 Litres) based on an
average of $3 per 500ml bottle. The same amount of water purchased from a ProAcqua
machine would cost $84 per person, $335 for the average family. This is a saving of over
$3,500 (91.6%).
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It uses lots of energy. Our use of bottled water in Australia generates more than 60,000
TONNES of greenhouse gas emissions every year. This is because the manufacturing of
plastic bottles, transportation, refrigeration and disposal all use electricity and fossil fuels
such as petroleum – over 145 million litres in Australia alone!
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Bottled water creates HUGE amounts of waste. Did you know it takes up to 3 litres of water
to make 1 litre of bottled water? Not to mention the amount of plastic pollution it creates on
our planet.
But don’t plastic bottles get recycled?
Not as much as you think! Only a small percentage do. It takes plastic bottles almost 1,000
YEARS to fully degrade. So what happens to all these bottles? It is estimated that in Australia
alone, almost 400 million plastic bottles end up in either landfill or our oceans! Worldwide, the
figures are even more staggering.
Can’t I just re-use the same disposable water bottle?
Some research has shown that Bisphenol A (BPA), a key component in polycarbonate plastics,
has been found to leach into the water of bottles that are made from it. BPA has been linked
with an increased risk of cancer and other diseases. Remember that most bottled water has
been in storage for between 3 to 9 months! ProAcqua water is never stored, nor does it ever
come into contact with harmful plastics or materials.
So what sort of bottle should I use?
Stainless steel drink bottles are made from food grade materials and do not leach any
chemicals into the water. They are lightweight, have a long life span and can be recycled at the
end of their life. ProAcqua sells its own affordable, stylish double chambered stainless steel
bottles that will keep your water cold for up to 24 hours!
How do I purchase water from the machine?
All water is purchased via our ProAcqua Smartcard, which can be purchased at nearby
newsagents and outlets close to the ProAcqua machines. The initial cost of the card is $10,
which includes a $5 refundable card deposit and $5 credit. When you have used up the credit,
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simply take it back to your nearest outlet and top up the card, or alternatively, hand in the card
and receive back your $5 deposit.
The smartcard system is a safe, convenient, cash-free way to purchase your water, and can be
topped up as needed.
Where can I refill using Proacqua?
The ProAcqua water machine in Forrest Place is the first of many machines to be rolled out
across Perth and around Australia. Download our ProAcqua App for apple and android phones,
to keep up to date with new locations, or alternatively, visit our website
www.proacquaaustralia.com.au.
Will I really be helping to make a difference?
Let’s put it this way. In Italy, the consumption of water from a single ProAcqua water machine by
just one household was found to save as much CO2 emissions as the carbon absorbed by 1650
trees. Installation of JUST ONE of these fountains in a city was estimated to be the equivalent of
planting a forest the size of a football field! Not to mention the tens of thousands of plastic
bottles that no longer ended up in oceans and landfill. So in short, YES!
At Proacqua, our philosophy is simple:
REDUCE the amount of money you pay for refrigerated still and sparkling water, while reducing
greenhouse emissions and plastic pollution.
REUSE your water bottle, and help make a real difference to the environment.
RETHINK the way you view bottled water. Not only do we pay TOO MUCH for bottled water, the
ultimate price to our planet is far higher.
Environmental benefits:
In the overall price of one bottle of water, the “raw material” (ie water) accounts for a fraction of
the overall cost (less than 0.5%), the rest is due to the cost of the bottle itself, transport and
advertising. Water is stored in plastic bottles from 3 to 9 months.
An average family consumes approximately 700 litres of water per year, equivalent to 1100
bottles of 600ml.
Production: 54 kg of oil and 324 liters of water are used, generating 43 kg of CO2 into the
atmosphere.
Transport: 11 liters of fuel are used, generating 26 kg of CO2.
Disposal and burning: 1 liter of diesel fuel is used, generating 57 kg of CO2.
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Bottled water costs a thousand times more than tap water and often the quality is not better than
municipal water supply.
Each ProAcqua fountain delivers an average of 500 litres of water per day (based on the Italian
experience), which equates to 182,500 litres per year. This saves the potential disposal of over
304,000 PET bottles (600ml), which is equivalent to 4000kg of plastic, 990 litres of CO2 for the
production of the bottles, and 4600kg for their handling.
The consumption of water from ProAcqua fountains by an entire household, would save as
much CO2 as the carbon contained in 1650 trees – installing a fountain in your city could be
equivalent to planting a forest of the size of a football field
Styles available:
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It provides still and sparkling fresh water in unlimited amounts
Conforms to regulations for disabled use
Vandal-proof design
Safety canopy protection
Internal insulation to give protection against freezing
Equipped with electrical buttons to choose the amount and type of water (still or sparkling)
Support tray for the bottles to be filled and for those already filled
Drip tray directly connected to the drain to prevent any overflow
LED night lighting with low power consumption
Monitoring device providing information to users
Reporting software for the creation of delivery statistics
UV lamp to protect the delivery area against bacterial contamination