Work starts on the first wave of 100 fountains to be installed in a drive to cut single-use plastics
The locations of the first 50 of a ￡5m wave of public drinking water fountainsearmarked for the capital have been announced.
The first of the new fountains – which people are encouraged to use to refill their own bottles – are being installed from this week, predominantly in tube and mainline train stations, shopping centres, markets and recreation grounds. Designed to withstand outdoor temperatures and all weathers, the fountains are attached to the mains water supply and feature a distinctive design with a giant blue “waterdrop” to make them easy to spot.
Last year plans for 20 fountains were unveiled in a ground-breaking joint venture between the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and partners. This was followed by an agreement with Thames Water to build on the success and install a further 100-plus facilities between spring this year and the end of 2020.
Thames Water and the mayor’s office are each contributing ￡2.5m to fund the venture, with the mayor’s share coming from cash earmarked for tackling the issue of single-use plastic.
Key to the new partnership is a 25-year maintenance agreement negotiated with Thames Water, Shirley Rodrigues, deputy mayor for environment and energy, told the Guardian. “What consumers told us in our work on pilots was that they wanted to be able to refill their own bottles from fountains that were safe, accessible, visible – and working,” she said. “We’re very excited about this and we are in the process of evaluating [council] bids for locations for the remaining fountains.”
Khan’s predecessor and Tory leadership hopeful, Boris Johnson – expected to become prime minister next week – announced “a new era of public fountains” in 2008 but did not follow it through.
The move comes amid growing public concern over plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. In the UK 38.5m plastic bottles are used every day; just over half of those make it to recycling, while more than 16m are put into landfill, burned, or leak into the environment and oceans. The average Londoner buys more than three plastic water bottles every week.
The Guardian has learned that retail giant John Lewis is in discussions with the metal water bottle brand S’well about a partnership that would lead to the first free water fountain being installed in one of its London stores.
Meanwhile, London’s Borough Market is to introduce a fourth water fountainas part of its aim to become the UK’s biggest entirely plastic-free food shopping destination.
The mayor’s office is also supporting a parallel drive to make free tap water accessible to consumers via the City to Sea refill app, with 2,500 restaurant chains including Leon and Costa Coffee now participating. The Refill campaign persuades businesses to sign up to a scheme allowing people to refill their water bottles on their premises rather than throw them away.
Where the new fountains will be located
Bexley
Abbey Wood Station
Belvedere Recreation Ground, Welling
High Street, Welling
Kingston
Victoria Road
Elm Road
Old London Road
Tolworth Broadway
New Malden High Street
Brent
Willesden Green tube
Lewisham
Manor House Gardens
Mayow Park
Hilly Fields
Mountsfield Park
Camden
Kentish Town Station
Russell Square
Camden High Street
Merton
Raynes Park Station
Morden Tube Station
Colliers Wood tube station
Mitcham town centre
Croydon
East Croydon Station
Norwood Junction
North End
Southwark
Potters Field Park
Brimmington Park
Dulwich Village
Nunhead Green
Ealing
Melbourne Avenue, West Ealing
Hanwell Clock Tower
Walpole Park
Wandsworth
Garratt Park, Earlsfield
Tooting Broadway Station
Balham Station
Southfields Station
Greenwich
General Gordon Square
New Eltham Station
Plumstead Station
Passey Place, Eltham High Street
Charlton Station
Additional Stations
Blackfriars
Shadwell
Crystal Palace
Brockley
Edmonton Green
Hoxton
Chingford
Enfield Town
Hackney
Broadway Market
Worship Square
Mare Street
Ridley Road Market
Project Manager at CHA Consulting, Inc.
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