Trail users and visitors to the Purcellville Train Station can now enjoy a welcome new amenity: a fully installed and operational water fountain designed with both convenience and sustainability in mind.

This improvement is the result of months of planning and fundraising by Purcellville’s own Girl Scout Troop 70005. The Cadette troop launched the project as part of earning their prestigious Silver Award, which encourages Scouts to identify and solve a local community need.

Their vision was simple yet impactful: replace the aging fountain at the western end of the 35-mile Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail with a modern, accessible station. The new fountain is fully ADA-compliant and features a bottle-filling station as well as a built-in pet bowl—making it easier for hikers, cyclists, and four-legged companions to stay hydrated.

Troop members were motivated by a shared desire to cut down on single-use plastics and to encourage people to carry reusable water bottles. Their research revealed that roughly 500 billion plastic bottles are thrown away worldwide each year and nearly half of Americans don’t drink enough water.

To fund the project—budgeted at just over $4,000—the Scouts sold everything from the iconic Girl Scout cookies to handmade crafts and even floral bouquets at community events. Along the way they shared their mission at Town Council meetings, the Purcellville Music & Arts Festival, and other local gatherings, building strong community support.

Thanks to their hard work—and assistance from Purcellville town staff—the new water fountain is now officially installed and ready for use at the Purcellville Train Station. Whether you’re a weekend cyclist, a daily walker, or a pup in need of a drink, you can now fill your bottle or bowl before heading back onto the trail.

Purcellville News congratulates Girl Scout Troop 70005 on their achievement and invites everyone to stop by, refill, and raise a bottle to this thoughtful community upgrade.