Erin Lewis and her child Mckenna, 8, are trying out the brand new Hydration Station in Evansville.
“How is it,” Erin asked.
“Refreshing,” Mckenna said.
That refreshing water is available for anyone using the riverwalk or visiting the Sunrise Pump Station Cascade. In the few weeks it’s been here, more than 1,800 have used it.
Hydration Station is the brainchild of a University of Evansville student Jack Deig for the 2022 Changemaker Challenge. These stations provide free, clean drinking water year-round.
This latest location was celebrated by a Monday ribbon cutting, with speakers such as Mayor Stephanie Terry, Evansville Water and Sewer Utility Executive Director Vic Kelson, Patchwork Executive Director Amy Rich and Hydration Station Founder and CEO Jack Deig.
Michael Heiger is Hydration Station CFO. He said this is easily the most accessible location.
“So many people come, they walk the trail, they stop right here, they sit down on these benches, and they go right back and they just need a spot for water — just so much foot traffic at the station compared to the rest of them.”
Other spots are the University of Evansville campus, indoors at Patchwork Central and the CenterPoint Energy Community Center.
Heiger said the next possible location could be Garvin Park, but could offer no additional details.
Erin Lewis is executive director of the Center for Innovation and Change at the University of Evansville. She said these projects are important for young people on many levels.
“It gets our young people in the community recognizing need to be met, it gets them collaborating with city leaders who are willing to help teach them how to do that," she said. "So it's the collaboration with Evansville water and sewer and the mayor's office and Culligan water and Alva electric, and they learn how to problem-solve with a passion.”
The Hydration Station team is working to expand to other public locations.