Comment: Water on tap

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In some countries, restaurants automatically serve a jug or carafe of water as diners are seated. Yet in London, one is invariably asked, "Still or sparkling?" Bottled water has become the norm. It need not be - London's tap water is excellent, while bottle water is extremely wasteful. That is why this paper today launches its Water on Tap campaign, supported by Thames Water, the Mayor and many London restaurateurs. This aims to encourage restaurants to serve tap water automatically and diners to give up bottled water.

Bottled water can involve as much as 300 times the carbon dioxide emissions of tap: the manufacture of plastic and glass bottles consumes millions of barrels of oil and millions of litres of water, while their transport entails yet more emissions. But it is essentially unnecessary, especially in a city with as good tap water as London. Restaurants can surely find other ways to make their profit margins - and the more astute owners may find that serving tap water willwoo customers who are keen to be green.

There can be no easier way to demonstrate ethical consumer credentials than ordering "just tap". We hope that this campaign makes it the natural choice.