MONTREAL – The Plateau Mont-Royal borough has just unveiled a new pilot project that uses fire hydrants to provide potable drinking water.
The gadget – called the Borneo system – works by attaching a 53-inch metal ring to the hydrant.
The ring has four valves to drink from.
The idea was thought up by five local designers two years ago and the project was presented to the borough by the Quebec Association of Industrial Designers.
The Plateau reportedly paid $5 000 for the two contraptions.
Borough mayor Luc Ferrandez says the aim is to cut down on bottled water, fight heat waves and allow the city’s hom eless population to have access to clean drinking water.
Right now, there are two hybrid hydrant-fountains in the borough.
One is at the corner of Mont-Royal avenue and Saint-Laurent boulevard.
The another is at de Brébeuf street and Mont-Royal avenue.
The rings are expected to move to different locations around the Plateau throughout the summer.
If the project goes well, the borough says they will look into adding more.
The borough points out the Montreal fire department was consulted on the design to make sure it did not create a security hazard.
They concluded the fire hydrants were still easily accessible in case of emergency.
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