Halifax startup aims to help people tap into free water
Two Halifax entrepreneurs are trying to make it easier for people to avoid buying water by mapping spots where people can grab a drink of tap water for free.
Stephen Flynn and Mike Postma have developed a new app, Tap, which now lists a few dozen businesses in the Halifax area.
Flynn says public fountains are few and far between, and people are often stuck wondering where to go when they're wandering around cities.
"There's a bit of a stigma. People are a little bit embarrassed to walk in with a reusable bottle if they're not buying something, or even if they are buying something," he said.
Helping find free water
After doing research and surveys, the pair decided people don't prefer the taste of bottled water and just opt to it out of convenience.
Flynn, who has a background in art direction at an advertising agency, now works with the company full time. Postma, a developer and programmer, works part time.
They had already decided they wanted to focus their energy on reducing the amount of single-use water bottles when Flynn realized he was on the verge of buying one out of desperation while travelling, hence developing something people could use on the go.
"The goal is to divert as many plastic bottles as possible by making tap water literally as reliable and effective as bottled water when you're out in public," he said.
App lists nearby taps
The Tap app launched July 26. For now, they've included coffee shops and fast food or casual restaurants, places where it's not disruptive to pop in for a free drink.
Flynn hopes users expand the existing network by inputting options and giving feedback on "refill stations."
The focus is on mapping Halifax but Flynn says they eventually would like to expand into other areas with the help of the network of users.
The app is part of their company, also called Tap, which also includes e-commerce, with hopes of selling glass water bottles they designed and manufactured online and potentially in retail locations featured in the app.
Flynn hopes it will be a win-win situation, with the app potentially bringing in new foot traffic to local stores.
