~ Joint Media Release with Sydney Water ~

Eleven new water stations are being installed across the Northern Beaches to make it easier for local residents to access drinking water when they are out and about this summer.

Northern Beaches Council and Sydney Water have partnered on the project, with Sydney Water donating eight of the stations.

Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said the conveniently-located stations will offer a range of benefits.

“The water stations will help our local environment by reducing the amount of plastic bottles going to landfill, polluting our bushland or ending up in the ocean or other waterways.

“We have installed the fountains at popular outdoor locations and hope people will get into the habit of carrying reusable bottles and bringing them to community events.

“This is timely since single-use plastic and polystyrene products, including bottled water, will be discouraged from use and sale at local public events under our Waste Minimisation at Functions and Events Policy. Council’s waste education team will be working with event organisers and stall holders to transition to this new policy and improve environmental performance.

“Refillable water stations are also a positive health initiative, providing an alternative to sugary drinks,” Mayor Regan said.

Sydney Water Manager Brand, External Communications and Engagement Jennifer Whittle said Sydney Water was delighted to be partnering with Northern Beaches Council on the project.

“Sydney has some of the best drinking water in the world. It’s already filtered by Sydney Water, and ready to drink straight from the tap.

“The availability of the water stations will help the family budgets of local residents by providing free water, rather than purchasing bottled water,” Ms Whittle said.

The water station locations include Careel Bay, Avalon Beach, Newport Beach, Kitchener Park in Mona Vale, Terrey Hills Oval, Beacon Hill Oval, John Fisher Park in North Curl Curl, Weldon Oval in Curl Curl, Freshwater Beach, David Thomas Reserve in Manly Vale and Tania Park in Seaforth.

Background Information

Plastic Bottled Water

  • It can take 250ml of oil and three litres of water to produce one litre of bottled water
  • A plastic water bottle takes about 1,000 years to break down
  • Only 35 per cent of plastic bottles get recycled with the majority ending up in landfill
  • When littered, plastic bottles often end up in the sea, killing marine life that mistakes it for food
  • For every tonne of plastic produced, three tonnes of carbon dioxide is released

Health & Wellbeing

  • In 2014, Australians drank on average nearly one (0.88) sugar sweetened beverage a day
  • Drinking one 600ml regular soft drink every day will see you consume 23kg of sugar in a year
  • One 375ml can of soft drink per day could lead to a 6.5kg yearly weight gain
  • There are 10 teaspoons of sugar in one 375ml can of regular soft drink
  • In 2012, Australians bought 1.28 billion litres of sugar sweetened beverages
  • In 2015, 52 per cent of adults and 22 per cent of children in NSW were overweight or obese

Cost

  • As of July 2016, five litres of Sydney tap water costs less than one cent
  • Bottled water ranges from 1,500 - 2,000 times more expensive than tap water
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