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Free water on tap at all London bus and rail stations
Mark Prigg, Science Correspondent10.06.08
Tap water vending machines could be installed in Tube and rail stations across London.
They would allow commuters to refill their water bottles, either for free or for a small charge, under plans announced by Thames Water today.
Andrea Riding, community liaison executive for the company, said: "There is a real momentum behind tap water but for people on the go it is a real problem. These machines would allow every rail and Tube station to offer free, chilled tap water.
"I think we have seen a real sea change in the attitude of Londoners to bottled water and now we hope we can bring that choice to people on the move as well."
She said Thames Water was in negotiations with several large agencies, including Transport for London, about the scheme.
Mrs Riding continued: "We would hope that a company like TfL would run the operation and we think the machines would be a welcome addition to every Tube and bus station.
"It's something that will appeal to everyone, as you can simply fill a bottle on your way to work, then again on your way home."
The vending machines require a power socket and a connection to the water mains. They filter and chill the water and are also capable of selling reusable water bottles. Mrs Riding said the company was hopeful of winning the support of Boris Johnson, adding: "We worked with Ken Livingstone on this idea, so we are hopeful the new mayor will back it as well.
"There would be a nominal charge of perhaps 20p per half litre to cover the cost and upkeep of the machine but we are hopeful that a major sponsor could be attracted.
"The sponsor could have their advert on the machines and bottles and that way it should be possible to offer free tap water to everyone."
The announcement of the project comes in the wake of the Evening Standard's Water On Tap campaign, which aims to reduce the amount of bottled water Londoners consume because it is environmentally unfriendly.
More than 3,000 restaurants, bars and clubs in London have signed up by pledging to offer their customers free tap water alongside bottled.
The public's perception of bottled water is also changing. Shop sales fell by nine per cent to £284million in the year to March, according to independent retail analysts TNS.
Reader views (13)
A brilliant concept but how far in future will this take to become a reality
- Joel Trotter, London
Can someone please remind those people planning to charge 20p for "free water" to refer to a dictionary. "Free" means no charge, get it?
- V Tan, London
From an emergency convenience point of view it is a good idea; however I, like many other people, prefer the guaranteed purity of bottled water. To meet the same standard tap water must be heavily filtered and over- chilled to hide the chemically taste.
- Adriano Ruiz, London, UK
Good thing they are planning to filter the water. The reason bottled sales have fallen is because a lot of people have domestic water filters.
- Lee Hawkins, London, UK
Interesting that Thames Water concedes that their water needs to be filtered and chilled before being served as drinking water. Is this an admission by the company that the quality of London's water is not good enough?
- Douglas Gain, London
Sooner the better. Paying for water to be transported all over the world with the associated glass and plastic waste is clearly ridiculous when you can have it for free. I remember as a student one of our mates always used to buy bottled water. We used to drink it and fill the bottle up with tap water when he wasn't around, he never noticed and always claimed how good his supposed bottled water was over tap water, which shows there isn't any difference in taste.
- Deso, London
Why doesn't the Standard sponsor these taps all over London? If chilled tap water is to be supplied so should un-chilled, pointing out that chilled water needs energy to chill it. Could you guarantee this would come from a sustainable source?
- Mike Theis, London
Alan Tucker, London --- I couldn't agree more.
- Ian Heritage, Melbourne, Australia
I reckon Waterloo will be where this scheme is launched.
As for free toilets the odd thing is the best one's are already free while the cost of the grotty downstairs one's has just increased to 30p!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
People started paying cash for water for its convenience, not to mention its taste. Have they figured out a way to get around that little factoid?
- Rogan, DFW Texas
You shouldn't have to pay to use a water drinking fountain.
They should be provided as a tiny tiny fraction of the cost of the ticket. Not even 1/20th of a penny would cover it.
Thames Water wanting 20p a half litre.
BORIS... tell them to clear off!
- David Diggins, Derby. England.
"Free water" = 20p per half-litre? You're 'aving a larf. I prefer Boris's reported plan to bring back water fountains, above ground.
- Captain Grimes, Wivenhoe, UK
Great idea. Now we need to do the same with free public toilets.
- Alan Tucker, London
