Tapping into new way to avoid need for 250,000 plastic water bottles

Top up Taps which have been placed across Scotland have saved the equivalent of 250,000 plastic bottles, according to Scottish Water.

More than 82,000 litres of water have been dispensed from the 26 taps up and running, which adds up to a quarter of a million 330ml bottles.

The first of the bright blue taps, helping people top up refillable bottles, was installed outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh two years ago. And Scottish Water has confirmed refill points will be in place at 70 locations throughout the country by March 2021.

Brian Lironi, the body's corporate affairs director, said: “We know that people in Scotland share our passion for our country' s great-tasting tap water as well as doing our bit for protecting the environment and improving health.

“It's fantastic that our Top up Taps programme remains on track to deliver a national network of 70 refill points by March 2021.

“It means people out and about can stay hydrated by filling up for free with high quality public tap water - this is ‘your’ water after all, so we want to make sure you can enjoy it as often as possible.

“There' s a growing appetite from the public to fill up their re usable bottles, and in these changing times it is more important than ever to take a refillable bottle with you and have your own fresh, clear water while you're on the go.

“We want to thank Scotland for supporting our Top up Tap sand to help to achieve the amazing milestone of reaching the equivalent of 250,000 bottles saved.”