Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
WATER THAT’S WORTH TAPPING INTO
Water is the stuff of life and, in Scotland, we are blessed with a natural resource that makes us the envy of the world.
Now Scots are being encouraged to Top up from the Tap.
For the sake of your health, your pocket and the planet, it’s far better to refill reusable water bottles than fork out for plastic bottles of water.
On average, a litre bottle of water costs about 65p, so topping up daily from the tap could save £1.30 a day – that’s nearly £500 a year.
So resolve to make a difference in 2019 by carrying a refillable bottle and topping up from the tap wherever you are.
To make this easier, Scottish Water is installing a network of hi-tech public water refill points for people to top up their own bottles.
The first Top up Tap was introduced in Edinburgh, followed by Glasgow and Ayr, but Scottish Water is working with every local authority to identify suitable locations across Scotland.
Plans are on track to have 10 Top up Taps installed by the end of March and, during the next two years, 30 towns and cities will get one of the units.
But in the meantime, many local businesses are also pledging to help the public keep their water bottles filled-up.
Research shows 86 per cent of people in Scotland agree there should be more locations that offer easy access to water, yet currently less than a third would be happy to go in to a cafe and ask for their bottle to be filled – something the campaign aims to change. Why not ask your local cafés, shops and businesses to support the Your Water Your Life campaign by offering to fill water bottles from their tap? It’s easy to sign up on the ’Get involved’ section of the website.
Scottish water is tested every day and meets the strictest standards found anywhere in the world.
Around 95 per cent of the water from Scottish taps comes from rain that travels down from mountainous areas and percolates through the ground into our reservoirs. It is famously described as ‘soft’ and pleasant tasting, as it doesn’t contain as much of the calcium and limescale that can be found in other areas of the UK.
Elise Cartmell, chief scientist at Scottish Water, says a team of experts test the water quality every single day of the year, collecting around 250,000 samples annually.
Water samples from across Scotland are, on average, quality tested every two minutes to ensure the quality of Scotland’s tap water remains high.
“We are testing it to make sure the water that comes out the taps is wholesome and great-tasting. In terms of water quality standards, Scottish water is one of the best in the world,” says Elise.
Brian Lironi, director of corporate affairs with Scottish Water, said: “It’s great to see businesses helping encourage more people in Scotland to top up from the tap, by proactively offering water top ups in their premises.
“We’re investing in creating a network of Top up Taps across the country to make refilling on the go easier.
“And working with businesses to widen access to drinking water will undoubtedly help drive a change in culture where topping up becomes commonplace.”