Importance

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Abstract

Disclosed is a self service water dispensing apparatus especially adapted to be located inside a grocery store. This apparatus includes a housing which provides a rigid support structure having a base section which has integral therewith a water storage tank, and an upper section immediately above the base section which includes a plurality of water filling stations. The upper section and base section are joined together and are contiguous with each other along a common generally horizontal plane located about waist high to a typical adult user. This provides a compact and convenient to use structure. The water filling stations each comprise a recessed cubicle having a top wall with a delivery spout therein, an open front side into which a water bottle is placed beneath the spout for filling, and a floor including a drain. Manually operable control switches are at each vending station. When one of these switches is actuated a pump is energized to pump water from the storage tank to the spout in the filling station associated with the manually operable control switch actuated. A reverse osmosis water purifying unit purifies water from a public supply source and delivers the purified water to the storage tank. A float detects when the level of purified water in the storage tank is low, causing water from a public supply source to be fed through the reverse osmosis unit. An ozone generator or ultraviolet light is included to kill bacteria.

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First Claim