New Drinking Water Fountains For Brighton & Hove In Bid To Reduce Plastic Waste

New drinking water fountains and bottle filling points are being installed in the city ready for the summer season.

Alongside Southern Water, the city council is installing six units in busy parts of the town centre, including travel hubs and exercise routes, in a bid to cut down on plastic bottle use and reduce litter.

In a statement, the council said:

"As a nation, we use more than 7 billion plastic water bottles a year creating a mountain of plastic waste. 

"Plastic production and burning plastic that’s been thrown away, pumps greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. 

"Plastic bottles also end up in our countryside and sea, choking wildlife and taking hundreds of years to break down.  

"Providing free drinking water refill stations in busy areas of the city, will reduce the need to buy plastic bottles. 

"The units also include water fountains so there’s no need to use a bottle if you’re on the go!"

Two flying stations have already been unveiled and are in use at Hove Lawns and Hove Lagoon skate park.

The others, at Churchill Square, on the plaza at the entrance to the Palace Pier, in front of Hove Town Hall, and outside Brighton Station, will be switched on later this month.

If successful, more fountains could be installed in other parts of the city.

The council says it has been their priority to install fountains for some time, but the six that were due in 2020 were put on hod for fear they would spread Covid infection.

They believe now that the water stations can be safely used and 'any health risks minimised with regular cleaning and maintenance'.

This will include:

• Daily cleaning and sterilising
• Regular water testing
• Twice yearly inspection, internal sterilisation and maintenance
• Daily reporting of damage
• Locating the units in shady areas, away from potential contamination such as overhanging trees.

The fillers also operate with a hands-free, push activation system, which allows bottles to be filled by pressing down onto a platform to avoid the bottleneck touching the fill spout.

If needed, the water fountain can be modified to be used for bottle filling only.

Council leader Phélim Mac Cafferty, one of the first to try the new water fillers, said:  

“I've been pressing for new water fountains in Brighton & Hove since my time in opposition, so as leader of the council, I'm pleased that we are now able to open brand new drinking water fountains in the city. 

“The fountains will be incredibly handy for residents and visitors alike on our seafront and in the city centre who will be able conveniently refill their flasks or bottles removing the need for them to buy bottle after bottle of water. The knock on effect will also be less rubbish along the seafront. 

“This is an important part of tackling the scourge of plastic waste and playing our part for the environment. As a seaside city, we bear a special responsibility to protect our precious marine environment, especially as it’s estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic waste enter the sea from land each year.  

“With covid restrictions now lifted, we are pleased to be able to install these fantastic, safe new water filling units and fountains. The public health benefits of water are widely acknowledged and it’s brilliant that we are able to make fresh, free, clean drinking water readily available to our residents. 

“Using a refillable water bottle is one small but important action everyone can take to reduce plastic waste and help reduce our impact on the planet. The pandemic has sadly seen a huge rise in the use of singe use plastics, but I really hope the new fountains will help all of us redouble our efforts to reduce and prevent waste."  

 
Picture shows Council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty filling a water bottle on Hove seafront