Free water bottle refill fountain installed

Sam Allix (left) and Martin Skyba (right) from Jersey Water with the new refill station fountain

A water fountain where people can refill bottles for free has been installed in Jersey as part of plans to build a wider network.

Jersey Water said the station had been installed round the back of St John's church, in St John's Village, to help reduce the use of singe-use plastic bottles in the island.

It said the station was set up in collaboration with the St John Youth and Community Trust, which helped fund the installation.

Martin Skyba, Jersey Water's network manager, said the firm wanted to install more of the fountains with plans set to be submitted for refill stations in Howard Davis Park and St Brelade's Bay.

Mr Skyba said: "These fountains give the public access to free water refills and, from an environmental perspective, reduce Islanders' reliance on single-use plastic bottles.

"Our aim is to install a minimum of two fountains a year at popular locations around the Island."

Julia Williams, from the St John Youth and Community Trust, said the organisation was "really proud" to have helped install the fountain.

"It is a positive legacy for the trust, which has, for many years, been focused on supporting community efforts in the parish," she added.