Thirsty? Elgin to purchase mobile hydration station to provide free water at events

Free, cold water will soon be on tap at many Elgin festivals and events.

Elgin City Council members on Wednesday approved a plan to purchase a WaterTap trailer, a mobile hydration station that will provide free drinking water to people attending various public events. The hope is to reduce the reliance on single-use plastic bottles.

The $40,000 purchase of the trailer will be funded with money the city receives from the Lakeshore Recycling System’s Annual Green Initiatives in-kind fund. That fund contributes $25,000 annually to the city as part of the company’s contract to provide refuse and recycling services. The current available fund balance is $50,000.

The city is expected to give final approval to a contract at a future meeting.

Mayor David Kaptain lauded the proposal as a way to alleviate the waste created by plastic bottles that end up in and around the trash at city-sponsored events.

“I think this is really an innovative way to help alleviate that,” Kaptain said. “It's kind of a back-door way of doing it that doesn't require the city to come and outright ban something. And we have great drinking water here, and I think it's a good opportunity to advertise that as well.”

The towable trailer is equipped with 10 stainless-steel dispensers and is fully self-serve once on site. It uses “flash cooling technology” and does not require electricity. It can operate using either a direct water connection or its onboard storage tank, allowing use at a wide range of event sites.

The unit includes integrated water meters that track gallons dispensed. That allows staff to measure impact, report outcomes and evaluate usage trends over time.

The trailer will be branded with the city of Elgin and sustainability messaging. It includes a digital display to share public information, sponsor recognition and educational content promoting waste reduction and reusable bottle use.

The WaterTap trailer will be available for use at all city and city-sponsored events during the 2026 event season at no cost.

Following the initial season of use, staff will evaluate operations and usage to determine how it can best be deployed.