Why you never need buy bottled water in Bristol again

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Thanks to advertising, it’s easy to think that spending a quid or two on bottled water is a great investment. It’s good for you and will make you look cool, beautiful, happy and free.

Does it though? These refreshing bottles of water peddled by pretty much every retailer across the land may only be a pound a pop, but over your lifetime it’s estimated that you’ll spend close to £25,000 on it and related fizzy drinks. Twenty-five thousand pounds! On top of this, Which? magazine calculated the markup on bottled water is between 100 and 1,000%. With profits like these, it’s easy to see why Del-Boy tried to tap into this goldmine selling ‘Peckham Spring’ back in the ‘90s. Compared to £25,000, even the most expensive hand-crafted, designer reusable water bottle begins to look very affordable.

Using a single-use plastic bottle for a few moments before chucking it is anything but sexy though. Thousands of plastic bottles littering the banks of the Avon, dead marine life and plastics in our food chain isn’t pretty, no matter what bottled water manufacturers say.

But it’s hot (the sun does shine sometimes here), you might run, cycle or have too much of something else to drink which means you need to drink water and stay hydrated. And you’re busy. Bottled water is easy as it’s sold everywhere. “Tap water is all very well-and-good,” you might say, “but my taps are at home and I’m out enjoying what this top-ten city (insert today’s headline/award here) has to offer! I can’t just go into a cafe and ask for free water – can I?”

Well, yes. You CAN! Wherever you see a blue ‘refill’ sticker in a window. Or, if you’ve downloaded the free app, whichever of Bristol’s 200+ refill stations you’re nearest to.

We LOVE Bristol Water, Eunomia, At-Bristol and the council for the two amazing free public drinking fountains in Millennium Square and Queen Square – but you may not always be near one of these to top up your bottle. With Refill, our aim was always to make it as easy and convenient for you to refill your water bottle as it is to buy one. Not only this but cheaper too. Well, FREE actually.

Back in 2015 when we launched over 200 local business understood the benefits of the scheme. They signed-up, instantly creating a massive refill network throughout our city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods. You’ll also discover many hidden gems and wonderful new cafes that we bet you’ll return to.

Bristol Water has been an amazing partner and we’re lucky to be in our second year working with them. You may have seen their Water Bar at many of Bristol’s amazing festivals and events from the Balloon Fiesta to Bristol Pride. They are quite literally bringing your tap water to you at festivals all Summer long.

This year will be even bigger and better with events from Upfest to Peaceful Portway. You can even go on a mini road trip and catch us at the Keynsham Festival in June/July. It’s only Rock and Roll but we like it!

So, if you want to save money, help stop plastic pollution and generally want to live a healthier, happier life please download the free app and start Refilling today! And come say hello at one of our amazing outreach events.