Water waste of money

Published on Sunday 27 April 2008 21:15

The manufacture, distribution and consumption of bottled mineral water is now perceived as environmentally unfriendly and the market for the product is declining. This year, the government announced that bottled water would no longer be served at government meetings (your report, 7 March).

In a recent survey of drinking water quality in the UK, Scotland came top, with 72 per cent giving the quality of our tap water a big thumbs up.

So it seems unbelievable that South Lanarkshire Council, in support of its "free water to school pupils" initiative, is inviting tenders for the provision of bottled mineral water to 133 schools at an estimated cost to the ratepayer of between 1.3 million and 1.8 million per annum.

Surely the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to provide drinking water in schools is by installing water fountains or mains water coolers. A litre of bottled water costs about 80p; the same price will buy about 1,000 litres of tap water.

GEORGE JOHNSTON

Ramoyle

Dunblane, Perthshire