Melbourne's drinking water is some of the best in the world. Yet we still drink more bottled water than ever, creating mountains of plastic waste.
One of the easiest ways we can all reduce our plastic consumption is to stop buying single-use plastic water bottles and use a reusable bottle instead.
Here are four powerful reasons to make the switch today.
It’s kinder to the environment
Since the beginning of this year, more than 176 million single-use plastic water bottles have been sent to landfill – that’s around 1,440 bottles every minute.
But the environmental impact begins even before the bottled water reaches the shops. The manufacturing process itself emits greenhouse gases that are damaging to the environment.
What's more, it takes 3 litres of water just to produce a 1 litre bottle of water. Switching to a reusable water bottle is not only an environmentally responsible choice, but also a way to conserve precious water resources.
Protect Australia’s oceans and waterways
Here’s a sobering thought. By 2050, scientists predict there’ll be more plastics in the ocean than fish.
Less than 20% of plastic is recycled in Australia, with a lot of plastic waste ending up in our oceans and waterways where it becomes harmful to sea life and birds.
Choosing to refill rather than buying single-use bottles helps to keep plastic waste out of our beautiful oceans and waterways.
It’ll save you money
Switching to a reusable water bottle not only benefits the environment, but also provides significant cost savings. Did you know that on average it costs 2000% more to buy a single-use plastic water bottle compared to refilling a reusable bottle at home?
When you buy a bottle of water, the bottle, its lid and label make up around 90% of the total cost.
By simply filling up your reusable bottle with tap water from home, or at one of our free water fountains, you can stay hydrated for a fraction of the cost. It's a win-win for both your wallet and the planet.
Filling up on the go
To make it easier for you to fill up your reusable drink bottle when you’re out and about, we’ve partnered with local councils and organisations to install free Choose Tap drinking fountains across Melbourne’s West.
There are currently 45 (and counting!) Choose Tap drinking fountains conveniently located around our service area – including train stations, parks and beaches.
Keep an eye out for our water fountains with in-built dog bowls to help keep your furry friends hydrated too. You can find your closest fountain using this handy tap finder.
