The summer of 2025 is expected to be hotter than average, perhaps the second hottest ever behind 2024.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said that oppressive heat begins this month and we should be prepared for Bermuda average highs around 82.4F to 87.8F.

Being prepared means an emphasis on staying hydrated. That works for Bermuda’s newest water supplier, a family that opened a Bermuda drinks factory a century ago.

Metro Mineral Water & Trading Co Ltd was a beverage manufacturer whose long history in Bermuda's soft drink business began on Reid Street in 1928.

Today, the founder’s descendants have begun a new water distributor, a company they have named FreshWater, and are promoting as: “Rainwater, only better.”

Jeff Stirling and his son, Luke, began quietly putting the business together in 2023, a small family-owned water bottling service specialising in purified rainwater, using cutting-edge purification techniques. There is no distillation.

By last August, they were ready to deliver. Even now, they have kept the business small and in the family. He said they are to the point, though, were there is a need for a fifth employee.

He told us: “Our water is pure rainwater [not desalinated water]. We further purify it through a six-filter carbon filtration process, an Ozonator sterilising tank and a double ultra violet disinfection system.”

They are operating from the last plant used to bottle Metro beverages, which at one point included Pepsi-Cola when they were the official distributor.

“From the skies to your sips” is the marketing, tapping into the longtime consumption practice of Bermudian families.

Mr Stirling notes: “Building the business has been more difficult then expected, but increasingly, we have seen steady improvement.

“This is an idea I had before Pure Water started back in the 1980s and I was encouraging my Metro family to do it, but they decided against it.

“I was busy with the car [Peugeot] dealership, so I couldn’t do it. We sold that business a few years ago, and I have more time. This also coincided with Luke finishing his MBA [master’s in business administration], so we decided to have a go at it.

“Luke took the lead and got things started and I manage the day to day business. Besides, having only one 5-gallon water bottle supplier is not healthy.”

The company uses the old Metro site on Hermitage Road to take advantage of the huge water tanks and catchment area, with a potential to produce about 200 bottles a day.

Mr Stirling noted: “If it didn’t rain for a year, we would still have lots of water to fill our bottles. We have no plans for the smaller three-gallon bottles.

“The price is deliberately competitive. Our plan is to keep the price low, only $13.50 for five-gallon bottles delivered [to businesses only for now], and $12.50 at limited retailers such as Lindo’s, Cost Cutters, Empire Grocery and a few more.”

The history of a family business was built on grit and determination, and an “all hands on deck” mentality.

Herbert George Stirling, an immigrant from Jamaica in 1923 and a cofounder of Devonshire Recreation Club, started a soft drinks business using homemade syrup and a foot-operated bottle filler.

As each one of his 11 children came along, they became involved in Metro Mineral Water & Trading Co Ltd, originally on North Shore, before moving to Hermitage Road in the mid-1970s and acquiring the Pepsi-Cola franchise.

Many can still remember the flavours as Metro Stone Ginger Beer, Sun Spot Orange and Nifty Pineapple.