Machines refill water bottles for 20p charity donation
London's first chilled water refill stations will be set up this month at Hammersmith Bus Station in an experimental move by a company called HydraChill.
HydraChill water machines, which will also be installed at Tower Bridge museum, will allow people to fill bottles of up to 500ml with chilled water for a 20p charge. All proceeds from the refills will be donated to Waste Watch, a charity working to change the way people use natural resources.
If the trial proves successful the plan is to extend the scheme to underground, bus and railway stations across London and the south east before the 2012 Olympics.
HydraChill says installation of the machines, which will be ready for use by October 28, follows discussions with Thames Water, Greater London Authority and Transport for London.
The trial, which could allow people to save money and cut down on waste plastic, follows a call by Mayor Boris Johnson for tap water to be used more readily than bottled water.
This message was contained in his draft water strategy, published in September, which also pledged to install water fountains across London’s parks.
HydraChill says its Water Refilling Stations have been developed in alliance with the UK water industry to help improve public "on-the-go" access to fresh, chilled mains-fed drinking water and to stimulate reduction in bottle waste.
Nick Davies, director of HydraChill, says his company’s machines have been " custom-designed from scratch" for the London project.
He says: " The trial process will ensure usage is good and allow us to gauge consumer reaction ahead of a potential roll-out."
7th October 2009