Water dispenser by the roadside

The prolonged heatwave has turned the free water dispensers along the roadside into a familiar stopping point for poor laborers, lottery ticket vendors, and passersby in Rach Gia ward.

Free water dispensers help workers quench their thirst on hot days. Photo: TIEU DIEN

Under the scorching May sun, along many streets, people place free drinking water dispensers on the sidewalks, embodying a spirit of sharing and bringing refreshment to passersby.

These days, it has started to rain, but the sun is still scorching at midday. Walking along the streets of Rach Gia ward, it's easy to spot water dispensers placed on the sidewalks, with the words "free drinking water." These dispensers serve passersby from morning to night; some contain refreshing iced tea, others filtered water, and clean plastic cups are always neatly placed nearby for people to drink from.

When meeting the owners of these free water dispensers, most said it was just a small act, a way for them to contribute a little to share with others. Ms. Le Thi Thang, a resident of Rach Gia ward and owner of the Loc Coc coffee shop on Nguyen Trung Truc street, has placed countless free filtered water dispensers for the local community over the past six years. Every day when she opens, Ms. Thang places the water dispenser in front of her shop. The free water dispenser is placed there year-round, not just during the hot season, serving passersby from morning until the shop closes.

When one bottle is empty, another is replaced, day after day, the free water dispensers continue to cool the hearts of passersby. Ms. Thang expressed: “In this hot weather, seeing so many people struggling to make a living, I thought I could do a small thing to help them. I placed a water dispenser near the sidewalk so people could easily get water to quench their thirst, helping them to ease their hardships on their way to work. I'm happy when my water dispenser gets emptier each day.”

For over a year, the sidewalk in front of Ms. Tran Thi Tu Anh's house on Lam Quang Ky Street, Rach Gia Ward, has been a popular stop for many laborers to drink water. Early in the morning, Ms. Tu Anh prepares ice and filtered water in a container and places it in front of her house. Each day, the container and drinking glasses are thoroughly washed. Every 3-4 hours, Ms. Tu Anh carefully adds ice and water to keep the container full. Ms. Tu Anh shared: “Every day I keep the ice-cold water container from morning until night. During the hot season, I continuously add ice so that people can have a refreshing, thirst-quenching glass of water. At lunchtime, many lottery ticket sellers, scrap collectors, motorbike taxi drivers, and delivery people stop by to drink and take water with them.”

These water dispensers have become "water stations" for countless passersby and outdoor workers, providing them with refreshment and relief from the heat. A sip of cool water at midday gives them renewed energy and eases their hardships. Thanks to these water dispensers, workers can save a little money.

Riding her old tricycle to collect scrap metal, Ms. Dang Thi Tu Nu, a resident of Rach Gia ward, stopped at a free water dispenser on Nguyen Trung Truc street. Removing her face mask, beads of sweat trickled down her forehead as she breathed heavily while taking a sip from a small cup. Ms. Nu shared: “Every morning before going to work, I bring water to drink, but this month the weather is hot, and my job requires constant travel, so I don’t have enough. I’m so happy to see these free water dispensers on the sidewalk. In this hot weather, having free water helps quench my thirst and saves me from having to buy it.”

Earning a living by selling lottery tickets on the street, with an unstable income, Mr. Vuong Hung (71 years old), residing in Rach Gia ward, frequently visits places with free drinking water dispensers to save money. “Selling lottery tickets doesn’t bring in much profit, and sometimes when I’m thirsty in the hot sun, I don’t dare buy water. In this hot weather, a glass of cool water makes me feel much better. Every time I stop here, I drink a glass and refill my bottle, which helps me save a small amount of money to cover my living expenses. I truly appreciate the kindness of the good people who provide free drinking water,” Mr. Hung expressed.

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Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/binh-nuoc-ven-duong-a485460.html