Tap Water in Westfield Food Courts

anthony t on 10/01/2024 - 12:03

I visit Westfield Food court (Bondi Junction) sometimes. No-one who works there whom I have asked knows where to get tap water, and the franchises are reluctant to provide it. Most suggest using the taps in the toilets. If you have a bottle or cup. Not ideal, but I tried this. The taps in men's and women's toilets only have warm to very warm water (except in the toilet bowls I assume). This is reminiscent of night clubs years ago, before laws were passed to fix it. This is a shabby way to get everyone to buy drinks - sugary or otherwise and unacceptable. Are there laws that cover this, in NSW or any other state or territory? Are Westfields (and other food courts) all over the country doing this?

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Comments

  • Fredfloresjr on 10/01/2024 - 12:05
    +23

    Just bring your own water when you visit Westfield Food court (sometimes).

    • megaalc on 10/01/2024 - 16:36
      +4

      your pragmatism is truly refreshing! It's like you're the MacGyver of food court hydration strategies

  • PissLUR on 10/01/2024 - 12:12
    +13

    how about parents room?

    • FoxJump on 10/01/2024 - 13:16

      this

    • Cherry12 on 10/01/2024 - 16:16
      +1

      I refill my water bottle in the parents room. It's usually cool or cold.

  • JimmyF on 10/01/2024 - 12:16
    +7

    The taps in men's and women's toilets only have warm to very warm water (except in the toilet bowls I assume).

    They are premix water I guess, so will be warm at best. It will cool with time ;)

    This is a shabby way to get everyone to buy drinks - sugary or otherwise and unacceptable

    Its a shopping center, you can always bring your own water if you can't live 30-90 mins while shopping without a drink and don't want to buy one. It should have a Coles/Woolies, they sell 1.5l of water for 80c, so if you need some, this is the place to go.

    Are there laws that cover this, in NSW or any other state or territory?

    No idea, but there should be laws for free water in lots of places like theme parks, so sure lets include shopping centers too. Asia theme parks have water fountains in the ride queues as its hot, QLD ones are like LOL Pay $10 for a bottle.

    Are Westfields (and other food courts) all over the country doing this?

    Time for a shopping center road trip!

    No-one who works there whom I have asked knows where to get tap water, and the franchises are reluctant to provide it. Most suggest using the taps in the toilets

    Who are these people you are asking? The shop owners? Have you tried the information desk, put in a request for a water access point.

  • djsweet on 10/01/2024 - 12:23
    +9

    Pretty sure its just licensed premises which have to legally provide free water.

    • PissLUR on 10/01/2024 - 12:27

      isn't it just a WA thing?

      • kerfuffle on 10/01/2024 - 13:02
        +3

        Also a NSW thing.

    • Benoffie on 10/01/2024 - 16:33
      +1

      SA also has the same law under the Public Houses Act

  • payton on 10/01/2024 - 12:35
    -1

    Buy several $1 1L water bottles from Coles and keep them in your car.

    • JimmyF on 10/01/2024 - 12:36
      +3

      and then refill at home when empty!

      • payton on 10/01/2024 - 12:39
        +2

        Absolutely, put one drop of washing liquid and rinse off before refilling, keep them off direct sunlight if you don't park your car under cover and the bottles will last for ages.

        • jv on 10/01/2024 - 14:35
          +3

          Sometimes I like to splurge and use two drops…

        • SlickMick on 11/01/2024 - 09:46
          +2

          Where do you people live? Water doesn't remain cool enough to drink after an hour in the car anywhere I've lived, let alone permanently residing there.
          Thermos or Yeti are necessary IMO.

          Appreciate the cleaning tip though. I'm a shocker for only cleaning drink bottles when I realise it isn't just water in there.

    • ForkSnorter on 10/01/2024 - 15:19
      +2

      A recent study using new technology found that 1 litre plastic water bottles contain up to 240000 microparticles of plastic

      https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/08/health/bottled-water-nano…

    • Craze on 11/01/2024 - 14:46

      I'll be avoiding plastic bottles where possible…

    • TiredKitty78 on 16/01/2024 - 02:27
      +1

      Or, if you're rich, buy a jumbo insulated bottle from kmart, and keep it in the car - filled with water and ice - for the day, for that cool cool refreshment.

      Plus a tiny one for when you're not in the car.

  • afoveht on 10/01/2024 - 12:52
    +5

    Yeah it's ridiculous. Clearly a money grabbing opportunity.

    Bottled water often (usually?) costs more than the cheapest softdrink. It's terrible health policy. There should be some regulation about easy availability of water at all food places, at least all permanent ones. Maybe a small nominal charge for a cup / service to cover costs. Places like Westfields should be doing this even if it's not the law - if they can impose all sorts of expensive conditions on their tenants then this is a no-brainer. Some water fountains would be the least of their expenses.

    • Fredfloresjr on 10/01/2024 - 13:00
      -4

      Actually, this thing should not be a problem until someone finds this as a problem. Seems like the word "entitlement" is getting out of hand now for "few". I never thought in my life that this will become a problem for few. Normal person will surely bring their own water next time they come to that particular food court when they found out that tap water is not available But again, a problem for few.

      What is next? The air is different at Westfield Burwood and a shabby way for everyone to buy Ox…. nevermind.

      • afoveht on 10/01/2024 - 13:08
        +3

        The air is different at Westfield Burwood

        Actually, yes it is different to what's freely available - it's air conditioned. It's what most would expect in a shopping mall. Do you think that's entitlement out of hand too?

      • TiredKitty78 on 17/01/2024 - 01:41
        +1

        While i do think there should be water available at shopping centres….

        I also see why not. Most people will not use that water fountain, or trust that it's clean, there's mess and upkeep.
        If water was available, i feel like it'd have to be from asking one of the people at the information desk, who take your bottle and fill it from the water cooler.
        But then again, you're going to these temples of capitalistic glory that sucks the money from you….and expect free water. And expect not to be SOLD water.
        If you go there so long looking for crap to buy, it seems weird a person would get offended at paying for water. We have amazingly clean water, on tap, at home.
        Bring water with you.

        Which reminds me, so many restaurants have water fountains for customers to fill their own cups. Would they object to people ducking in quickly and quietly and filling a bottle? Corporate greed tells me yes.

    • payton on 10/01/2024 - 13:13
      -1

      Bottled water often (usually?) costs more than the cheapest softdrink.

      80c for 1.5L
      https://www.igashop.com.au/search/1?q=water&sort=price
      https://www.coles.com.au/product/coles-natural-spring-water-…

      It does prove the point that militant vegans are out of touch with reality

      • afoveht on 10/01/2024 - 13:13

        Thanks for the advice. Enjoy your day mate.

    • jv on 10/01/2024 - 14:35
      -1

      Bottled water often (usually?) costs more than the cheapest softdrink. It's terrible health policy

      Easily fixed via legislation. Other countries have done it.

  • kerfuffle on 10/01/2024 - 12:54
    +2

    Westfield Miranda has refillable water stations. Dunno about other Westfields in NSW. I bring my own water from home so I don't have the same problem as you …

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 10/01/2024 - 13:12
    +3

    Are you spending many hours at the westfield or something?

    If you have a bottle or cup. Not ideal, but I tried this

    So you had a bottle and drank all the water? or…

    and Is it becoming a common occurrence you need extra hydration? Might need to consider a bigger bottle..

    • JIMB0 on 11/01/2024 - 09:03
      +1

      Probably walking around collecting coins from trolleys. It is hot out in the car park.

  • mrdean on 10/01/2024 - 14:23
    +1

    Lesson is to be prepared & think ahead when heading out for the day.

  • Gdsamp on 10/01/2024 - 14:39
    +6

    Probably as a result of those who may be inclined to make excessive use of public park barbecues

  • jv on 10/01/2024 - 14:40
    +1

    Just get yourself one of the these…

  • thisusernameistaken on 10/01/2024 - 14:44
    +3

    Ask for a cup of water at McDonalds

    • jv on 10/01/2024 - 14:46
      +1

      Would you like fries with that?

    • sam-1966 on 10/01/2024 - 17:33
      +2

      McWater, please!

  • sss333 on 10/01/2024 - 16:40

    In the ACT there's some of these in Westfields (well according to the map, can't remember actually seeing them)

    The stations make it easier for people to fill up their water bottle in popular public places like shopping centres, parks and areas with high pedestrian traffic.

    https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/public-land/public-space…
    https://www.health.act.gov.au/about-our-health-system/health…

  • Stewardo on 10/01/2024 - 16:54
    +3

    I’m not a fan of the shopping centres, but they and their retail outlets are a private business, they have no obligation to provide you anything for free. It’s not a public park. The drink selling tenants pay huge eastern Sydney rents just to be there. If you don’t want to pay for stuff, don’t go there.

  • Drakesy on 10/01/2024 - 17:08
    +2

    Nup,
    only licensed premises need to provide water.
    Use the taps in the toilets.

    And yeah, it's not up to the franchisees to refill it, just bring your own full waterbottle. If you want a refill buy another bottle, easy.

  • Craze on 10/01/2024 - 17:08
    +1

    The newer, "greener" shopping malls do provide filtered water stations in food courts- Eastland, Burwood Bricks and Westfield Knox all have them for you to refill your bottles.

  • FocusRider on 10/01/2024 - 17:10
    +1

    Buy a bottle of water..

  • MeesusEff on 10/01/2024 - 21:38

    I've never come across water refilling stations at the shops, except Costco. But parents room has a tap, just look a bit like a creep if you go in without kids

    • kiitos on 11/01/2024 - 09:11
      +1

      Sounds like there's a market opportunity for a baby-shaped water bottle.

      • Ghost47 on 18/01/2024 - 22:32

        To fill it up you would unscrew the head and to drink from it you would suck on the penis.

  • CheapskateQueen on 10/01/2024 - 22:29
    -3

    I've been annoyed by this for a while. They should definitely be required to provide water fountains. Not like they don't have the plumbing available.

    Yes, i bring my own water bottle but 500-600ml doesn't get you far. Plus, sometimes you are there for hours on end, especially clothes shopping.

  • 82norm on 11/01/2024 - 08:12
    +1

    I just open the toilet cistern and get water from there.

    • TiredKitty78 on 16/01/2024 - 02:33

      No you don't Fido, you gots no opposable thumbs! Quit your lyin.

  • SlickMick on 11/01/2024 - 09:57
    +3

    It's a quality of life thing. Places that provide free water are desirable. I hope the shopping centres proving water get a lot of business and those that don't go broke.

    Also, it'd be great if local councils provided water on shopping streets, in parks etc. Some do and it's an indication of a better place to live. Some have the facilities but they aren't maintained, indicating to me a city in decline. (I hate going to get a drink and the fountain is dry.)

    Ensuring access to the most basic necessity seems like a pretty good benchmark of how far civilisation has evolved.

    • mrdean on 11/01/2024 - 10:33

      Unfortunately, all of the basic necessities you mention are being co-opted into the hands of corporations, under the guise of protecting the earth.

      https://www.nyse.com/introducing-natural-asset-companies

    • CheapskateQueen on 11/01/2024 - 12:06
      -1

      apparently we're all meant to walk around with 2litres of water..didn't you hear?

      its crazy how simply providing a water tap really is an indication of quality of care/ life

      • TiredKitty78 on 16/01/2024 - 02:35

        Your parents managed to take you out and about decades ago and keep you and themselves hydrated, and that was before insulated bottles where so common. You'll figure something out. Or go thirsty. idk.

  • wordplay on 13/01/2024 - 23:29

    tap or watering can for windscreen at nearest service station to fill your own bottle before arriving if you are driving.
    Otherwise sometimes friendly security guards have let me fill in the staff amenities (depends on the centre if they have good or poor ammenities - one had a nominal fee coffee)

  • JonnyQuest on 15/01/2024 - 00:17

    Well, I'd find the Centre Managers Office - and ask why they do not have Free Public Water Dispensers at Bondi Junction ?
    At Westfield Miranda they have at least Two Filtered Water Dispensing Units (so you can refill your own water bottle) each have two taps - One Chilled, One not.chilled.

    Ok, I missed the key statement (at the Food Court ! ) Well, that is a financial consideration for the benefit of the Food Kiosks - I would say. And the rent that Westfield charge, I gather is very high, those shops would need all the options available to make a profit. So many of them go under ..But I would hope there are water dispensers with taps at least - somewhere else within walking distance - as they have done at Miranda Westfield. Seriously, contact the Management at Bondi Junction Westfield and ask about it. If this is a major concern. It sounds like you'd be doing a favour for many potential people - if it was available.

  • TiredKitty78 on 16/01/2024 - 02:41

    But for real my dudes, just get yourself a insulated jumbo bottle. Fill it with cold water, half with ice. Then when the days half done and it needs to be refilled, there WILL still be ice in there….to cool down whatever luke warm ick water you find to a decently chill refreshing water.

    Damn, fill the whole thing with ice and water and run some sort of cold water cartel, cold water, $2 a cup. BYO cup. T&C's apply. But stay hydrated dudes.

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