THE SOLUTION

Reefill is a network of stations where members can fill their bottles with cold, filtered tap water on the go -- it’s a low-cost, eco-friendly alternative to bottled water.  Members have unlimited access to all stations for $1.99 per month, or the cost of just one bottled water.

HOW IT WORKS

TRACK YOUR GOOD

With the Reefill app, members can track how many plastic bottles they have saved from the landfill and how much money they have saved by avoiding buying bottled water.  They can also see the positive impact of members across the network.

THE SOLUTION WORKS

We currently have an 8-station pilot network around the Village in New York City, which was partially funded by a grant from New York University to help the NYU community reduce plastic waste. We’ve proven the infrastructure works and although we’ve already saved over 1,000 plastic bottles from the landfill, we know a larger network will have a much bigger impact!  With 100,000 people using Reefill, C02 is reduced and huge amounts of oil, energy, and wasted water will be saved by not manufacturing and transporting bottles.

YOUR NETWORK

We’re excited to expand the Reefill network throughout New York City and beyond -- that’s where you come in! By reaching our $30,000 goal we can build the Manhattan network beyond our pilot program and with more backers we can expand to outer boroughs as well.

$30,000 = 15 new locations!
When we reach our initial goal we will have funding for at least one station in neighborhoods across Manhattan including the Financial District, Tribeca, Chinatown, Soho, Lower East Side, East Village, West Village, Gramercy, Chelsea, Garment District, Murray Hill, Midtown East, Midtown West, Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Morningside Heights, Harlem, and Washington Heights.

$100,000 = 50 new locations!
Coverage throughout Manhattan with multiple locations in most neighborhoods.

$250,000 = 125 new locations!
When we top $100,000 we will start adding locations in the boroughs outside of Manhattan as well.

$500,000 = 250 new locations!
With locations across New York City you’ll generally be no more than a few blocks from a fill up.

$500,000+ = a new city!

THE PERKS

GIVE SAFE WATER

We’re thrilled to partner with Water.org, an amazing organization that has brought safe water and sanitation to more than 6 million people around the globe. When you back our campaign, you not only support a low-cost, eco-friendly bottled water alternative, but you also provide safe water to someone in the developing world. Every backer reward corresponds to a safe water donation through Water.org.

BYOWB!

Although we’re offering one-of-a-kind water bottles as perks, you can use any water bottle you want with Reefill.  It’s BYOWB!

TIMELINE

FUTURE GOALS

Helping New Yorkers ditch bottled water is just the first step. You are starting a movement that will bring Reefill to new cities across the nation and then across the globe. And as we add new products we will work toward the ultimate goal of making all single serve plastic bottles obsolete.

UNDER THE HOOD

Reefill stations combine state-of-the art water dispensers with advanced access control Bluetooth technology.  Much of the magic happens under the counter, where we house our filter and chiller, which ensure that the water dispensed is great tasting and ice cold.  UV sanitization occurs in the dispense area to make sure there are no germs or bacteria transferred from one user to the next.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

THE TEAM

Jason Pessel, Co-Founder & CEO, Lifelong water drinker.

Andrew Betlyon, Co-Founder & Chief Design Officer, Recent convert.

Patrick Connorton, Co-Founder & COO, Funny-bone still hurts.

THE NAME

Are we just Reeeeeeally excited or something?  Well, yeah, that’s part of it, but Reefill is meant to evoke the coral reefs that are being decimated by climate change and ocean pollution.  We can help make our oceans clean and healthy again by ditching bottled water and using less disposable plastics.

FAQ

What’s wrong with bottled water?

Tons!  And we mean that literally!  Over 80% of plastic water bottles do not get recycled, meaning 2 million tons of plastic bottles pile up in our landfills and oceans each year.  The manufacturing and transportation of bottled water also wastes more than 17 million barrels of oil and creates more than 2.5 million tons of CO2 annually.  And for every liter of bottled water produced, 3 to 4 liters of water are wasted.  All of this for a product that is often just glorified tap water.  In fact, 50% of bottled water, including Coca-Cola’s Dasani and PepsiCo’s Aquafina, is sourced from municipal supplies.  More facts about bottled water can be found here and here.

Where can I find a Reefill station right now?

We currently operate an 8-station pilot network around the Village in New York City, with stations hosted in local favorites City Bakery, OCafe, the Uncommons, Kuku Canteen and more.  A full map is available at http://www.reefill.com/map.

What kind of filters do you use?

Reefill stations use carbon and sediment filters that meet the performance standards of NSF certification 42 (meaning they reduce specific aesthetic or non-health-related contaminants, including chlorine, taste, and odor) and NSF certification 53 (meaning they reduce specific health-related contaminants, including lead, Cryptosporidium/Cyst, and Giardia).

Are the stations clean?

Reefill stations are equipped with UV sanitization in the dispensing area to kill germs and microorganisms.  We also clean the stations regularly.

What if I forget my bottle?

With a dense network you'll never be far from a Reefill station and that means you can use smaller bottles that are easier to carry.  Through the Reefill app you will also be able to set reminders to help you remember to carry your bottle.

Am I paying for water?

The membership fee covers the infrastructure and maintenance of the network, including the chilling and filtering of the water.  We are not charging for the water and once you access a station, you can take as much as you’d like and fill up your friends’ bottles too! 

By backing us on Indiegogo you can get great deals on membership packages that we do not plan on offering again, including 5-year and Lifetime memberships that will automatically upgrade to any premium memberships we offer during that time period, such as for additional product offerings.

Can’t I just drink tap water from home, work, or school?

Of course!  We support any option where people drink tap over bottled water (which often comes from the tap too) but sometimes it can be tough to find places to fill up away from home, work, or school. That’s one of the reasons Americans spent $21 billion on bottled water last year. When you are on the go, Reefill provides quick and easy access to cold, filtered water with no need to wait in lines or bother store employees, and without the plastic waste of bottled water.  We are also coordinating with the New York City Mayor's office so that the Reefill app will show outdoor (free) bottle refilling stations around town.

What phones does the app work on and what are the system requirements?

The app is available for iPhone (iOS 9.0 or later) and Android phones (Android 4.4 or later).

Do I need to have a smartphone to use Reefill?

Yes, for the time being.  But we are developing access cards and RFID stickers (to put on your bottle!) so Reefill will be available to those without a smartphone and even more convenient for everyone.

Where specifically will your stations be?

That will depend on how much support we receive (and thus how many stations we can manufacture), where we see the greatest demand for the service, and where our host businesses are located.  That said, we will be adding Reefill locations throughout New York City so you won’t need to walk far to fill up when you’re on the go.

Can my business host a station?

We are always looking for interested locations!  Please send an email to info@reefill.com and we can discuss.

When will Reefill come to my city?

As soon as we possibly can, and with your support through this campaign, that could be as early as 2018!  For those of you who do not live in the New York area, the Reefill bottle is the perfect way to show your support for the mission.  If you have a friend in New York, you might also consider a gift membership.

Do I need to use a particular bottle, like the one in the video?

You can use any bottle you want!  The bottle in the video is available as a perk for those who back at certain levels (see the Perk section for details).  If you’ve got a favorite water bottle and want to let others know about it, post about it in the comment section!

Will any percentage of your proceeds go to charity?

Yes!  Through our partnership with Water.org, we use a portion of our proceeds to provide safe water to people in the developing world.  If you sign up for a one-year, five-year, or lifetime membership through Indiegogo, we will donate one year, five years, or a lifetime of safe water, respectively, to someone in the developing world.  We will also donate one day of safe water every day you use the app to fill your reusable bottle.

When will my membership start?

We will be sending backers an activation code to start their memberships.  You are free to wait until we have convenient locations for you before using the code.