Install water refill stations in Sheffield

Overall, UK consumers drink 2.5 million litres of bottled water a year. Just over half of the UK population, or 51%, drink bottled water once a week or more. 7.7 billion plastic bottles are bought across the UK each year, resulting in substantial amounts of single-use plastic waste. Research has found that more than 90% of bottled water brands contained microplastics. Single-use PET plastic water bottles take 400 years to decompose.

Health professionals tell us that the increased consumption of sugary drinks by children and young people is a significant factor in the alarming rise of obesity and diabetes rates. Providing drinking water in parks and other places where children and young people play and congregate would be a great way to encourage hydration without damaging their health or the environment.

Furthermore, single-use plastics cause deaths to 100,000 marine mammals and 1 million seabirds annually if these enter the waterways. Sheffield City Council can play their part and tackle the plastics crisis.