Water refill tap to boost anti-litter efforts in Cairngorms National Park
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Visitors to Aviemore and other well known communities in national beauty spots will soon be able to refill and stay rehydrated at new public water taps being installed to help reduce waste and litter.
Scottish Water has confirmed that Top Up Taps are also being installed within Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and Mabie Forest in the south-west.
One tap is to be installed in Aviemore village centre.
Eight taps in total are being put in in total over the summer in three areas across Scotland ensuring that visitors can stay hydrated using refillable bottles and reduce waste and litter, such as single-use plastic.
Scottish Water has said the approach supports the drive to encourage visitors to leave no trace when visiting the countryside.
Five are earmarked for communities in and around Loch Lomond and The Trossachs.
One tap will also be installed in Pitlochry and a further site is being explored in Braemar.
And another new tap will be located at Mabie Forest in Dumfries and Galloway, popular with walkers and mountain bikers.
They form part of an expanding network across Scotland which have already saved the equivalent of more than 450,000 single use plastic bottles through refills at the push-button water points.
Peter Farrer, Chief Operating Officer of Scottish Water, said: “Scotland’s great outdoors have never been so popular with visitors.
"We’re delighted to be able to keep people hydrated with our public water taps at the same time as reducing our footprint on the natural environment.
“There is a real connection between the environment and the water we all enjoy and use daily.
"Providing people with an opportunity to top up from the tap using refillable water bottles is vital to reducing litter and the amount of single use plastic in our communities.
“The growing network of public taps throughout the country is already making a real contribution to our efforts to be more sustainable and reduce litter. It also means people can enjoy great
tasting tap water out and about in more and more places.”
The five taps in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park will be installed at Balloch, Aberfoyle, Callander, Balmaha and Rowardennan.
Stuart Chalmers, National Visitor Services Manager of Forestry and Land Scotland, said: “This is a great initiative that we’re happy to support. I’m sure will be a big hit with all of our visitors
and will help drive home the message that when it comes to sustainability, little things – like refillable bottles – can make a big difference. “
Grant Moir, Cairngorm National Park Authority chief executive, said: “Anything that helps reduce single use plastics and results in less litter in the Cairngorms National Park is most welcome.
"We look forward to more of these taps appearing in other places in the Cairngorms National Park in future.”
The taps will be switched on after a series of tests have been completed to ensure the water is wholesome. They are regularly inspected and cleaned.
The public can find their nearest tap at www.yourwateryourlife.co.uk
