Paris Is Installing City-Wide Sparkling Water Fountains

@writearoundtheglobe

Parisians are changing the public water fountain game — it’s sparkling or nothing.

After city officials heard that residents of Paris would be willing to drink tap water on the streets if it was carbonated, the city made plans to put fizzy water fountains in every arrondissement (neighborhood). It might be the most Parisian plan we’ve ever heard.

Last week, a new sparkling fountain went up in Canal St. Martin, a buzzy Parisian ‘hood in the northern section of the city. But there will be nine more by December 2018.

A post shared by Benjamin (@barbugourmand) on Jun 24, 2017 at 9:07am PDT

The new high-class water fountains (locally known as “fontaine pétillante”) will join the eight that are already scattered throughout the city. It’s a project that began in 2010 but more recently became a priority for city water officials.

There’s a dual goal behind this plan: They want to get people hydrated without buying disposable plastic bottled water. Each Parisian goes through an average of 40 gallons of bottled water every year. Considering city residents’ infamously discerning taste, sparkling water is an enticing solution.

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It’s actually pretty simple to turn looked-down-upon tap water into faux La Croix (sans lime). There’s a carbon dioxide carbonator connected to each fountain’s water line, and the CO2 is added to the temperature-controlled water — a crisp 44 degrees Fahrenheit.

So if you’re headed to the City of Lights in the next year, keep an eye out for more fontaines pétillantes appearing in your favorite arrondissement. Stay hydrated out there, a les Parisiennes!

[h/t City Lab]