Commuters and local people around Acton may have noticed two new water fountains springing up and offering a more sustainable option to stay hydrated.
The fountains, located outside North Acton Tube Station and at Acton Skate Park, have been secured by Ealing Council courtesy of #OneLess and the Mayor of London, as part of the London Drinking Fountain Fund. They make up two of 20 new public water fountains installed in busy stations, shopping centres, museums, and other venues across London as part of the scheme.
The London Drinking Fountain Fund has been established by the Mayor of London (MoL) and #OneLess, a campaign led by the Zoological Society of London, to reduce single-use plastic water bottles in the capital and tackle ocean plastic pollution.
It is hoped that by providing these two fountains here in the borough, the council can encourage people to refill rather than buy bottled water and cut plastic waste by reducing single-use bottles.
Councillor Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council said: “The new fountains recently installed in Acton will help local people stay hydrated on the go. It means that they will not have to resort to buying single-use plastic water bottles, which could end up as rubbish on the borough’s streets, in the Thames or into our ocean.
“Our work with the London Drinking Fountain Fund puts Ealing at the forefront of the move to reduce plastic waste across the capital and give our residents the support they need to make sustainable choices.
“We remain committed to increasing recycling rates across the borough to 60% of household waste over the next four years and further building on our record as one of the top performing boroughs in London.”
Dr Heather Koldewey, co-Director of the #OneLess campaign and Head of Marine and Freshwater at the Zoological Society of London said: “This new public fountain will make it easier for Londoners to keep hydrated on the go without using single-use plastic water bottles, which could end up in the River Thames or our ocean. We are delighted to be working with Ealing Council on this exciting initiative.”
Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Shirley Rodrigues said: “Water fountains are a simple but effective way to encourage Londoners and visitors to switch from plastic bottles to reusable ones. “The demand is greater than ever for quick and easy ways of accessing free drinking water and I’m pleased see these fountains now appearing in public spaces across London. They’re already proving popular and City Hall is working on plans to install many more to benefit both thirsty Londoners and the environment.”
The drinking fountain at North Acton is not the only new feature in the vicinity of the tube station. Ealing Council is working with Transport for London (TfL) to transform the site in the heart of the area, which was formerly a petrol station, into the new North Acton Station Square.
The new, improved public space will provide brand new green spaces, safer infrastructure and easier access to the station upon completion this winter.
