This fall, visitors to Seoul's festivals will be able to quench their thirst with cool Arisu water without needing to purchase bottled water. The city is deploying mobile water stations and promotional vehicles at festival and school events, allowing citizens to experience the taste and quality of Arisu firsthand.
The Seoul Arisu Headquarters announced on September 8 that it will install mobile "Arisu Companion Water Stations" at major fall events, including the Sinchon Global University Cultural Festival, the Seoripul Music Festival, and the Seoul Eulalia Festival, starting this month.
The Companion Water Station is a mobile water facility that supplies Arisu directly connected to nearby water pipes, eliminating the need for separate water tanks. It provides cool water at temperatures between 36 and 48 degrees Fahrenheit through an internal cooling system. Its easy setup and takedown allow for flexible operation at various festival schedules and locations.
Notably, a dedicated water dispensing area will allow the use of personal cups and tumblers. This means attendees can enjoy clean and refreshing Arisu without purchasing bottled water, promoting both adequate hydration and a reduction in single-use plastic.
Last year, the city first introduced two Companion Water Stations at the Seoul International Garden Expo, which attracted 10.44 million visitors. The stations proved to be a reliable source of drinking water at large outdoor events.
This year, the city is significantly expanding its support. Three Companion Water Stations were operated at the Seoul International Garden Expo, which opened in May, and a total of 13 stations will be deployed across six major events this fall. Approximately 2.4 million people are expected to visit the events where these stations will be set up. The city plans to inform citizens of the installation locations through social media to enhance usage.
In addition to the Companion Water Stations at large festivals, the mobile Arisu promotional vehicle, "Wowka," will be dispatched to local festivals and school events.
Wowka is a mobile promotional vehicle that transports Arisu produced at purification centers to event sites for public distribution. It serves cool Arisu and various beverages made from Arisu in reusable cups. Through interactive programs such as quizzes, games, and campaigns, it educates the public about the production and management processes of tap water and offers a free water quality testing service via QR codes.
So far this year, Wowka has visited 42 event sites, providing Arisu drinking and tasting opportunities to about 23,000 people. The city aims to operate Wowka at 100 events annually, with plans to visit an additional 58 locations for fall local festivals and school events.
This initiative goes beyond simply providing free water at festivals. The goal is to reduce the perceived distance citizens feel toward tap water by allowing them to taste Arisu directly, encouraging them to incorporate it into their daily drinking habits at home and work.
There is also a growing consensus among citizens that drinking tap water helps protect the environment. A survey on drinking water consumption patterns among Seoul residents last year found that 64.8% of respondents believed drinking tap water is more environmentally friendly than bottled spring water. Utilizing Arisu, which is produced at purification plants and supplied through water pipes, helps reduce the environmental burden associated with the production, transportation, and disposal of bottled water.
Seoul plans to continue expanding opportunities for citizens to drink Arisu, not only through Companion Water Stations and Wowka but also through outdoor pop-up events. The city aims to convey the message that "tap water can be safely and deliciously consumed" through actual drinking experiences rather than just explanations.
"The experience of tasting Arisu is the starting point for narrowing the gap with tap water and fostering an eco-friendly drinking culture," said Kwon Min, head of the Seoul Arisu Headquarters. "We will continue to expand citizen engagement by providing opportunities to naturally encounter Arisu in spaces that citizens frequently visit, such as festivals and events, and ensure that this experience translates into their daily drinking habits."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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