Several water companies took part in the first “National Refill Day” held on Thursday (27 September) in a bid to curb single use plastic.
Severn Trent and Thames Water are among those to have participated in the Refill campaign, which aims to see free water points in every major city in England by 2021.
The initiative allows people to fill up reusable water bottles for free at businesses which sign up as Refill Stations – such as pubs, restaurants and cafes.
John Lewis and Morrisons are the latest high street chains to sign up to provide free drinking water.
A survey commissioned by not-for-profit organisation City to Sea found 83 per cent of residents in London are worried about the impact of plastic pollution in the environment and 52 per cent are now using a reusable bottle instead of buying bottles of water in shops.
Steve Robertson, Thames Water’s chief executive, said: “Nurturing and protecting the environment is a core mission for Thames Water and we are proud of the quality of our tap water.
“By making it even more accessible we can together limit the use of millions of single-use plastic bottles which sadly end up in landfill or in our rivers and oceans.”
Severn Trent meanwhile has launched its refill scheme for people across the midlands.
So far more than 60 businesses have signed up as Refill Stations as part of the scheme.
Severn Trent says it plans to help launch the scheme in 10 major towns and cities by early 2019 while, at the same time, supporting local schemes and building a volunteer network.
The company’s chief executive, Liv Garfield, said: “It’s brilliant to play such an important role in a national campaign which encourages more people to stay hydrated with wonderful water.
“The scheme is entirely voluntary and, as an industry, we’re urging as many businesses as possible to get involved.
“It’s a positive and ongoing campaign which gives people easier access to free water refills, a chance to promote the quality and benefits of tap water, and to help address concerns about plastic pollution.”
It is thought that 7.7 billion plastic water bottles are used in the UK each year, with the average person now using 150 plastic water bottles every year – more than three a week. If just one in 10 Brits refilled just once a week, 340 million plastic bottles a year would be saved.
It is thought the partnership could save a billion bottles by 2025 with Refill Stations on every high street across the UK.
Natalie Fee, founder and CEO of City to Sea, said: “It’s been incredible to watch the campaign flourish over the past two years.
“We wanted to do something that everyone could get onboard with, that would drastically reduce the amount of pointless plastic we use when we’re out and about. People want to help stop plastic pollution, and Refill puts the power to do just that in peoples’ hands.”
Michael Roberts, chief executive of industry trade body, Water UK, said: “As an industry with a strong focus on the environment we are passionate about tackling the problems caused by plastic bottles, which clog up rivers and drains, and pollute our seas.
“On National Refill Day, people can help turn this harmful tide of plastic waste by downloading the app and switching to a re-usable bottle. This country has some of the best drinking water in the world and we want everyone to benefit from it.
“This scheme will do that by making it easier for people to refill their bottles for free wherever they work, rest, shop or play.”