CONTACT: Kyle Shepherd
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Partnership with Louisville Water Foundation and Louisville Water Company Makes Drinking Water Stations Possible

 The eight stations include a mechanism to allow guests to easily fill a reusable container plus messaging on the importance of hydration.  A grant from the Louisville Water Foundation made it possible for the Zoo to purchase the new fountains.  Along with the drinking water stations, the Zoo and Louisville Water announced an expanded education effort on the value of water for people, animals and their habitats.

 Each filling station has a counter that indicates the equivalent number of bottles being refilled. Since March, Zoo patrons have already filled 52,000 bottles worth of water — and prevented 52,000 plastic bottles from going to landfills.

 “Louisville Water has long been a great partner,” said John Walczak, the Zoo’s executive director.  “We’ve worked together on events to educate families about the importance of water and now, we’ll continue that effort with regular programming. We’re thankful to the Louisville Water Foundation for the addition of the new stations that allow our guests a more convenient way to stay hydrated during their visit.”

 With messaging of “fill, drink and repeat,” the Zoo encourages guests to bring a reusable bottle or purchase a co-branded bottle in the zoo’s gift shop to use to fill at the stations during a visit.  “Louisville Water’s quality is ranked as some of the best in the nation,” said Spencer Bruce, Louisville Water Company president and CEO.  “As the only water utility to trademark its tap water, customers know to drink local and enjoy Louisville pure tap.”  Louisville Water has added messaging to more than 50 drinking water fountain locations throughout the city and with the pure tap campaign, a million people enjoy the city’s water at events, festivals, schools and sporting events and even more learn about the value through an education campaign.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer was one of the first to try out the new filling stations. “One of the reasons we’re having such success as a city and have such great momentum in our economy is that in Louisville, we know how to come together for the common good of our city, said Fischer. “Louisville Water, the Louisville Water Foundation and the Louisville Zoo show us once again the great things that are possible when we come together.”

 Each year, more than 860,000 people visit the Louisville Zoo.  The filling station locations are at the Zoo’s Main Plaza, Papa John’s Splash Park, the Islands, Gorilla Forest, MetaZoo Discovery Center, African Outpost, Admin building and Boma Petting Zoo. LuLu, the camel at today’s event, has a special connection to water — camels can drink up to 26 gallons of water at one time.

 Learn more about Louisville Water’s pure tap campaign and the Louisville Water Foundation at LouisvilleWater.com.

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