Finding Free Filtered Water (Water Bottle Refill Stations)

I’ve been seeking free filtered drinking water (at water bottle refill stations) so I can drink plenty of affordable (free!) filtered water while traveling.

This is because we just completed a year and a half of camping down the west coast of the USA, and I didn’t even realize this was an option.

Instead, I was purchasing local spring water in glass bottles to remain as ecological as possible. Or so I thought.

I love spring water. I was raised on spring water. Spring water tastes so sweet to me.

So I justified buying spring water in glass bottles before I fully analyzed how much money I was actually spending. Aka, before I saw my annual drinking water bill.

Spring water in large glass bottles was priced at about $3 a bottle. I was drinking at least two bottles a day. With taxes, I was spending at least $200 a month, or $2,400 a year.

That is a lot of money.

I wasn’t using my Berkey water filter for that trip because we were traveling in my partner’s Honda Element for what I thought would be a brief camping trip (but it lasted 1.5 years).

Also, I felt the Honda Element was just too tiny to set up the Berkey in any logical way. So I bought spring water in glass bottles.

I can’t believe I didn’t think more about how much money I was spending on my water. I don’t know why I was so slow to take this seriously.

Oh, wait, it was because I love spring water. Still, I can’t believe I did it. I spent $2,400 needlessly. Need. Less. Ly.

I could have practically purchased a used car for that. I could have replaced a car engine for that. I could have helped someone in need.

Thankfully, I eventually realized that I could instead fill my water bottles with free filtered water at water bottle refill stations located all over towns and cities.

And I’m not talking about water fountains where people place their mouths over the fountain. No, no, no, no, no. My microbiology professor was quick to teach us why we should never do that.

I’m talking about touchless water bottle refill stations with filtration and sanitization built in.

Of course, I’ve not independently verified them—but I’ve not become sick using them, and when their filter is up to date, I don’t taste chlorine.

So I want to share where I’ve found (or been told one can find) these free filtered drinking water stations I’ve been appreciating so much—just in case this helps someone else save $2,400, too.

  • libraries

  • grocery stores

  • community centers

  • shopping centers

  • eateries

  • parks

  • schools/universities

  • hospitals

  • government buildings

  • transportation hubs (train stations, airports, etc.)

  • fitness centers

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