Morning:
13°c
'Make 2012 the tap water Olympics'
Mark Prigg, Technology Correspondent24.10.08
THE 2012 Olympic Games must offer free tap water to all visitors and athletes, a leading MP said today.
In a parliamentary debate about the Olympics legacy Tom Brake MP, the Lib-Dem London and Olympics spokesman, said spectators must not be forced to rely on environmentally-unfriendly bottled drinks.
His comments follow the successful Evening Standard Water on Tap campaign, which called for London restaurants to offer customers free tap water as a matter of course.
More than 3,000 restaurants and businesses signed up to the campaign, including major chains and dozens of top chefs and restaurateurs. Following the launch of the campaign, sales of bottled water in the capital have already dropped.
Mr Brake believes the Olympics would provide the perfect showcase for the capital's tap water. He has now written to the Minister for the Olympics, the Mayor of London and 2012 organisers asking them to ensure equipment is installed at the Olympic venues to provide free non-bottled drinking water. "Everyone wants the 2012 Games to be the most sustainable on record," Mr Brake said. "That must mean free non-bottled water for all visitors. Otherwise the discarded bottles will stretch to the moon and back. And there would be a great health spin-off from increased water consumption and a reduction in fizzy drink consumption.
"There is a head of steam building up behind the campaign, first launched by the Evening Standard's campaign Water on Tap, to cut back on bottled water," he said. "Having free non-bottled water at all the Olympic venues would be a major step forward."
Thames Water has also revealed plans to create a "London carafe" to serve tap water in thousands of restaurants, which could be used at the Games.
A £5,000 prize is on offer and the winner will be announced in December. Judges include chef Aldo Zilli, architect Zaha Hadid, Tony Juniper of Friends of the Earth and Evening Standard wine critic Andrew Neather.
Reader views (9)
As long as my water rate bill doesn't increase I couldn't give a stuff! There's actually more chemicals in bottled water, but you still see all these idiots walking around taking little sips of water out of a little bottle that's neatly places in their handbag or rucksack.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
i would rather die than drink recycled water,that tastes of bleached soaked cardboard
and with everything being found in it,like traces of anti-depressant...WHY SHOULD I DRINK RECYCLED TOILET WATER??
- Nouna, london
Why not, it's being run by drips anyway!
- Vince London, West London
However you do this people won't take it up. They'll stick to their bottled water.
Why is it you're a 'Leading' MP if you happen to agree with the publisher?
- Jonathan Morse, Croydon, UK
If it's had fluoride compounds added to it by government directive how many of them will want to drink it?
- John, Bristol UK
well, it will be a huge washout anyway!
- Gary, wycombe
This is such a good idea. Reduces carbon emissions shipping the bottles all the way to the Games and if it's free people might actually re-use their bottle again and again rather than just toss them away as they tend to now. it's so simple. come on government just do it
- Chris Stenson, London
Something for nothing in London?Never!
- Steve, London
Is this what we're paying our MPs for? Doesn't he have any real business to work on, rather than faf about with headline-creating nonsense. I'll bet some of his constituents have some real issues on which they need help. And it's certainly NOT bottled water that's causing them grief!
- Haskey, London SE1
