Free water refilling introduced to reduce single-use plastics
Visitors using reusable bottles will receive free drinking water
Last updated 14th Oct 2021
Free tap water refilling stations will be introduced in Somerset West and Taunton (SWT) to help reduce plastic consumption.
Visitors using reusable bottles as a sustainable alternative will receive free drinking water.
The refilling points will becoming available for public use towards the end of the year.
The refilling stations are in the process of being installed on:
- Warren Road, opposite the railway station in Minehead (4th October)
- the High Street, outside Clarks shoe shop in Taunton (18th October)
- the High Street, outside the post office in Wellington (25th October)
Following installation, each refill point will undergo testing for a number of weeks to comply with drinking water standards.
Once turned on, the refill units will be cleaned, maintained and inspected regularly to ensure good hygiene and water quality.
The project is being funded by Wessex Water’s ‘Refill not Landfill’ campaign to reduce public reliance on the consumption of single-use water bottles.
Councillor Dixie Darch, Executive Member for Climate Change, said: "We’re excited to support the ‘Refill not Landfill’ campaign and grateful for the opportunity to work with Wessex Water to help break the habit of reaching for single-use plastics.
"The new fill-up points will provide a green and money-saving alternative for members of the public, whilst reducing the amount of single-use water bottles being thrown away.
"This is a very positive and achievable step that we can all take to reduce both our carbon and waste outputs."
SWT is supporting the project and has been working with Somerset County Council to agree on the locations and appropriate licenses for Wessex Water to carry out the installation work.
Kirsty Scarlett, Head of Community Engagement for Wessex Water, said: "The water refill points have been installed in great locations to keep residents and visitors hydrated.
"These are just some of the many water refill points we will be installing across the region as part of our mission to reduce the number of single-use plastic bottles we all use.
"We are pleased to be able to work with so many local communities which share the same aim of promoting refill over landfill."
Along with the other Somerset authorities, both SWT and Somerset County Council have previously identified the need to reduce single-use plastics as part of the Somerset Climate Emergency Strategy.
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