Tag: Top up Taps

Scottish Water unveils Scotland’s ‘Top of the Taps’

Edinburgh consumes nearly 250,000 litres of water from public Top Up Taps

THE BUSIEST and most-used taps across Scotland over the summer have been identified in the latest data revealed by Scottish Water.

The research paints a fascinating picture of exactly where thirsty drinkers have been using the national water provider’s network of Top up Taps from May to August.

Topping the chart, retaining its top position, was the Grassmarket Top up Tap which dispensed almost 35,000 litres. Seven of Edinburgh’s 10 taps featured in the top 10,

Impressively, the Top Up Taps initiative has inspired a 19% increase in people carrying a refillable bottle, and figures show that well-hydrated people across Edinburgh filled up almost 18,000 water bottles and consumed 236,353 litres of water across the area’s 11 taps.

Following the Grassmarket, the other most used taps in the region was in The Meadows Pavillion which served up 31,869 litres, and Portobello Promenade with 31,621 litres.

The Botanics West tap was the least used in Edinburgh with 2,780 litres dispensed. Meanwhile the tap in Rutland Place clocked in with a total tap usage of 15,092 litres and Leith Links at 18,259.

Brian Lironi, Director of Corporate Affairs at Scottish Water, said: “It’s brilliant that so many locals and visitors alike are using our Top Up Taps in such numbers.

“But nothing would make us happier than seeing them used even more! There couldn’t be many better reasons for carrying a refillable water bottle and topping up when you’re out and about – it’s good for your health, good for your pocket and good for the planet.”

Publicly funded Scottish Water recently installed its landmark 100th Top Up Tap in the shadow of the Kelpies in Falkirk. Since launching the initiative in 2018, the 100 taps collectively have topped up the equivalent of nearly 6 million single use plastic bottles.

The aim was to put the distinctive blue Top Up Taps in key locations all over the country – and they now stretch from Arran to Arbroath and from Shetland to Stranraer.

It couldn’t be easier to see where your communities tap is – just visit

www.YourWaterYourLife.co.uk/TapMap 

and search by putting in any postcode or viewing a complete list of the Top Up Taps across Scotland.

Brian Lironi, added: “Water is our most precious natural resource, and we want the people of Scotland and visitors to have access whenever they need it.”

Full usage list of Top up Taps in Edinburgh:

Total Usage May – Aug 2023 (L) 

Edinburgh- Grassmarket – 32135

Edinburgh- The Meadows Pavillion – 31869

Edinburgh- Portobello Promenade – 31621 

Edinburgh- Scottish Parliament – 28910

Edinburgh- South Queensferry – 21975

Edinburgh- Botanics East – 21853 

Edinburgh- Silverknowes – 18407

Edinburgh- Leith Links Refill Station – 18259

Edinburgh- Rutland Place – 15092

Edinburgh- High Street – 13452

Edinburgh- Botanics West – 278

Taking big steps to enjoy nation’s Top Up Taps network

Scotland’s expanding network of distinctive water refill stations is set to inspire people to enjoy – and protect – the nation’s great outdoors this Autumn.

Scottish Water’s Top Up Taps (TUTs) are located across cities, towns and rural sites which allow people on-the-go to refill their water bottles for free while also doing their bit to reduce litter.

And now two of Scotland’s best-known walking and outdoors organisations – Paths for All and Ramblers Scotland – have joined the wave by supporting the drive to encourage more walkers, runners and cyclists to seek out the taps on their outings.

The Top up Taps are part of Scottish Water’s Your Water Your Life campaign, which was launched in June 2018 to emphasise the vital role water plays in the lives of people across Scotland.

There are already 60 Top Up Taps situated across Scotland with more to be installed over the rest of the year in town squares, city centres, sea fronts and even iconic landmarks.

And with Scotland’s famed Autumn beauty about to shine, it’s the perfect time to visit some of the existing taps in these locations. Towns boasting taps already include St Andrews, Linlithgow and Perth.

Spot some of the blue taps in and around the city centre too at  Glasgow Buchanan Street, Edinburgh Royal Mile and Stirling. There is even some taps situated in iconic Scottish locations like Glenfinnan Viaduct and the Scottish Parliament. 

Individuals can also enjoy fresh tap water while taking a trip to the seaside in Irvine and Portobello.

Rona Gibb, Senior Manager at Paths for All, said: “We can all do our bit to protect the environment and Top Up Taps make the choice to carry a refillable bottle when out walking an easy one.

“Here at Paths for All, we’re encouraging everyone to walk for short daily journeys, as it’s not only healthy, but driving less reduces our carbon emissions.

 “It is of course important to stay hydrated when walking and that’s why we love to see these taps popping up in our towns and cities across Scotland.

“They make it convenient for everyone to make the small daily changes – like walking and carrying tap water – that will collectively make a big difference to reducing pollution, and helping tackle climate change.”

Brendan Paddy, Ramblers Scotland director, said: “We warmly welcome Scottish Water’s roll-out of free refill taps at popular outdoor locations across the country.

“We’re sure that they will prove very popular with thirsty walkers, while also helping to reduce plastic waste and protect the environments in which we all love to walk.”

Brian Lironi, Director of Corporate Affairs at Scottish Water, said: “Our Top up Taps mean people out and about can stay hydrated by filling up for free with our top quality tap water – this is ‘your’ water after all, so we want to make sure you can enjoy it as easy and often as possible.

“Topping up with fresh, great-tasting tap water brings so many benefits – it’s good for the pocket, it’s good for the planet and great for your health too.

“And as we’re set to once more enjoy Scotland’s amazing Autumn scenery and beauty, while ‘leaving only footprints’, having your own water bottle and ready supply of water in so many locations makes that so much more easier to achieve.

“We’d encourage people to keep an eye out for our eye-catching blue taps on their travels.”

Each of the distinctive, high-tech water stations is plumbed directly into the public water supply and each has digital tracking technology which logs how much water is being used and how much plastic potentially saved.

A full list of the current and planned Top up Taps is available on a dedicated website https://www.yourwateryourlife.co.uk/

Edinburgh’s Tap Trail inspires new workout challenge

Edinburgh’s network of distinctive Scottish Water Top up Taps has inspired a new outdoor workout challenge with a difference. Kieron Ross, Head Coach and founder of city-based Race Fitness, has plotted a 15.5 km route that people can either run or cycle between the six refillable water points across the city.

And to encourage more people to try out the new tap trail, Kieron is challenging fitness enthusiasts to try to beat his running time of 64 minutes for the circuit.

The Top up Taps are part of Scottish Water’s Your Water Your Life campaign which means people keen to stay hydrated on the go can do so free of charge, saving money as well as being kinder to the environment by reducing litter and waste.

Edinburgh was home for the first tap – at the Scottish Parliament – and capital now leads the way in Scotland as the first city to have six taps, with the five other taps located at Leith Links, Portobello, Royal Mile, West End and Grassmarket.

Kieron said: “Four members of my fitness club and I have all ran and cycled the route a few times already. We just thought that we are always looking for new great places to run to, so why not do it between the taps?

“The route takes you to parts of the city you don’t normally go to and you get to see more of Edinburgh, and even better, do it from an entirely different perspective. We’ve also created two other variations of the challenge for those who want to explore specifically the city centre.

“We frequently use the Top up Taps to refill our water bottles and they are especially useful when we go up and down the steps through West End, The Royal Mile and the Holyrood Parliament”

“We’re really pleased to be playing a part in helping people join the wave in learning more about taps – and the benefits they bring. Every Wednesday morning, during my most popular class, we go to some of the taps around the city centre and the new members really value discovering the different tap locations.”

With a focus on running mixed with bodyweight exercises, Kieron Ross has built a fitness group oriented around getting fit in the great Edinburgh outdoors – with the tap trails providing the latest inspiration.

As well as the six-tap route, Kieron has also conceived two others runs – The Royal Mile Dash, a 3.5km run between the Parliament tap and the Grassmarket tap and back; Advocate’s Close Step Challenge, a 10 lap circuit which starts at the Royal Mile Fountain, downhill to Cockburn Street, then turn left up the Advocates Close steps to the Royal Mile. 

Kieron added: “I would be thrilled if anyone decides to challenge me on my time between the taps. It’s always great to have some healthy competition. The ultimate challenge is to do it under the hour.

“Staying hydrated when you go for a run is essential, and I can plan a run from my house to Portobello beach without having to worry about having water on me. I can just go and use the taps and move on with my run.

“More people should know about the Top up Taps as they always prove to be so useful. I always make sure to share the route with all of my group members, and everyone has always had a great response to them.”

Brian Lironi, Director of Corporate Affairs at Scottish Water, said: “Our Top up Taps mean people out and about can stay hydrated by filling up for free with high quality public tap water – this is ‘your’ water after all, so we want to make sure you can enjoy it as easy and often as possible.

“We know there’s a growing appetite from the public to fill up their reusable bottles – so it’s great that fitness enthusiasts in Edinburgh have another reason to visit and use our taps in the capital, thanks to Kieron’s new route.”

The Your Water Your Life campaign was launched in June 2018 to emphasise the vital role water plays in the lives of people across Scotland.

The first of the Top up Taps was installed in Edinburgh outside the Scottish Parliament in October 2018 and Scottish Water already has 58 situated across Scotland with more to be installed over the rest of the year.

Each of the distinctive, high-tech water stations is plumbed directly into the public water supply and each has digital tracking technology which logs how much water is being used and how much plastic potentially saved.

A full list of the current and planned Top up Taps is available on a dedicated website https://www.yourwateryourlife.co.uk/