Volunteer Water Service

Why is there a big water can in the park?

Because dogs need water!

While many owners bring water for their dogs, not everyone will always have enough water with them. Water is heavy, dogs are thirsty, and if there's no communal water available, anyone putting down a water bowl for their own dog may find themseles swarmed by thirsty dogs.

In late summer 2024, to help out the park, I decided to start buying 4L plastic bottles of spring water and hanging them on the fence (and bringing the empties home to recycle). I got excellent feedback from many grateful owners, and so I wanted to continue volunteering this service again in 2025.

However, I found myself concerned about the amount of plastic waste I was creating. Plastic bottles can be reused, but only to a point. Plus, I was worried about keeping the bottles clean, since they're hard to sterilise — heat, chemicals, and ultraviolet sterilisation all damage them, and risk leaching substances like BPA into the water.

After some consultation with my fellow dog owners, we decided that the best way to supply the park with water would be to use metal cans. I found some 35-litre cans that I could use, and began planning the logistics of how to safely supply the park with water in a more sustainable way.

Why is there a lock on the can?

While discussing this solution with other owners, some of them expressed concern about the safety of using a single communal water source. They cited stories about people leaving poisoned food out for dogs, and were worried that a park water jug left out overnight could become a target for something similar.

Personally, I don't put much stock in these stories. Much like the "razor blades in Halloween candy" scare of the 1980s, these sorts of urban legends tend to be either entirely fictional, or based on a single incident that happened somewhere once — with the time and location changing based on the storyteller, and oddly always "recently" and "nearby".

But, to make people feel safer, I decided that it would be fairly easy to put a cover and a lock on the cans. This discourages both tampering and theft, as well as preventing rainwater and debris from entering the can.

Can I trust the water from these cans?

Well, I certainly hope so, because my dog drinks from them, too!

I've done my best to research and enact a rigorous cleaning schedule:

• Cans are cycled every 1 to 3 days, depending on usage and my schedule.
  • If I know I won't be around to replace a can, I'll either enlist the help of a trusted friend, or I'll leave it at home.
• Cans are emptied immediately upon being rotated out, and are allowed to fully dry before being refilled.
• Cans are sanitised weekly, using "Star San", a food-safe sanitiser (typically used to clean brewing equipment).
• Cans are sterilised monthly, by slowly heating them to at least 70°C.

That being said, I do fill these cans from a hose in my garage. While my plumbing is modern, and I do my best to make sure the hose is flushed with fresh water before I begin filling the can, it's still hose water. I think most people would agree that hose water is fine for dogs — especially compared to eating snow, or drinking from puddles — but a bit iffy for human consumption.

Ultimately, it's up to you whether you want to use the water I provide. I do my best to make sure it's clean and reliable, but use of this water is at your own risk and judgement.