Free tap water with Refill London

Have you heard of Refill London? The scheme will help you locate places to refill your bottle with free tap water.

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To help reduce the amount of single-use plastic bottles and make drinking water more accessible in public spaces, the Mayor has launched a scheme to help Londoners locate places to refill their bottles with free tap water. 

The discussion ran from 15 March 2018 - 09 May 2018

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Comments (271)

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Sounds like a great idea, I hadn't heard about it before.

Avatar for - Adelie penguin

Have heard of this and welcome it, great idea.

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Great idea.

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A good idea to reduce plastic bottles, although some initiative to put PUBLIC water fountains would be good too, Lets see if you also think about restoring some free public TOILETS as well. Network Rail have made the first step - up to you...

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A good idea to reduce plastic bottles, although some initiative to put PUBLIC water fountains would be good too, Lets see if you also think about restoring some free public TOILETS as well. Network Rail have made the first step - up to you London boroughs!!!

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Great idea and very timely after last night's news re micro-plastic contamination in many bottled waters - but will Refill London water also pass such a test, I wonder as it would require quite sophisticated filters to extract such...

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Great idea and very timely after last night's news re micro-plastic contamination in many bottled waters - but will Refill London water also pass such a test, I wonder as it would require quite sophisticated filters to extract such contamination? Thoughts??

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Many other cities around the world offer free public water fountains in the street. In the US it is the norm. This would help London keep up with the rest of the world in this regard.

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Had heard of the proposals and think its a great idea not only to get pople to use reusable bottles but also to drink more water generally. Getting points in parks and along routes where people run and cycle would also be a good aim. We are...

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Had heard of the proposals and think its a great idea not only to get pople to use reusable bottles but also to drink more water generally. Getting points in parks and along routes where people run and cycle would also be a good aim. We are also encouraged to carry water on tubes and trains - points at stations would be good.

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It is a perfect idea, to be honest it should have been done years ago, I will back it all the way, can't wait for Islington to get involved

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Great Idea. 1st I've heard of it even though I live in Lewisham, a pilot area. Needs much more publicity of locations. Sounds as is may be limited to office hours. Like decent working transport.

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Very good idea and remarkably similar to what was available when I was growing up some 65 years ago, when this type of facility was available in parks, schools and other public spaces!

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I would like to see more public water fountains. The more we have, the less meed for an app. Keeps it simple!

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I would like to see more public water fountains. The more we have, the less meed for an app. Keeps it simple!

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Avatar for - Staghorn coral

Excellent idea, brings back many happy memories of never being thirsty!

If the idea in question is not being implemented elsewhere nationwide, perhaps a parliamentary petition would be a step in the right direction?

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Excellent idea, brings back many happy memories of never being thirsty!

If the idea in question is not being implemented elsewhere nationwide, perhaps a parliamentary petition would be a step in the right direction?

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Sounds good in theory but what about hygiene? If someone else’s bottle touches the filler point you get all their germs plus plastic bottles are not safe to reuse - info from a Director of Public Health in a London Borough so likely to be...

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Sounds good in theory but what about hygiene? If someone else’s bottle touches the filler point you get all their germs plus plastic bottles are not safe to reuse - info from a Director of Public Health in a London Borough so likely to be true rather than just fear mine ring.

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Haven't heard of it till now but think this is a brilliant initiative!

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We live in a more and more financially segregated society and I like these sort of initiatives which go some way to re-adjust that balance.

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We live in a more and more financially segregated society and I like these sort of initiatives which go some way to re-adjust that balance.

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Interesting. Happy in principle. 2 questions: a) What data are being captured to evaluate success over time? and b) What action is being taken to increase provision of free, public toilets to relieve those rehydrating, in due course?

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Interesting. Happy in principle. 2 questions: a) What data are being captured to evaluate success over time? and b) What action is being taken to increase provision of free, public toilets to relieve those rehydrating, in due course?

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Avatar for - Sumatran elephant

Excellent idea - fully behind it

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I thought it was illegal to refuse people drinking water.

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Great shout, love it, there will be a cost but I'm willing to help absorb it via taxes. Hygiene will be an issue to some folk when using fountains, there must be a solution to this tho.

FWIW whenever I need a top up on my water bottle I...

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Great shout, love it, there will be a cost but I'm willing to help absorb it via taxes. Hygiene will be an issue to some folk when using fountains, there must be a solution to this tho.

FWIW whenever I need a top up on my water bottle I always ask restaurants/cafes etc, only time I've been turned down is when the site hasn't had access to tap water. I might have this wrong but I think anywhere that has access to it are legally bound to do this if asked.

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This is a great idea. As a cyclist I think we should have public drinking taps at key points on the cycle network. Even when carrying my own water, on a long ride or a hot day, its' quite easy to run dry.