Free Refills on Your Water – TapIt

We all know that the use of disposable water bottles and coffee cups is on the rise and out of control. If you’re reading this, you probably already have a snazzy reusable water bottle and mug that you haul around to lessen your contribution to the landfill. Unfortunately, when we’re out and about, it can be difficult to find a place to refill your bottle. Some cafes and restaurants will turn you away from using their water if you’re not a paying customer.

And if you live in a big city, public restrooms and sanitary water can be a rarity. The TapIt water bottle refilling network is an attempt to make it easier to refill your water bottle so you don’t have to pay for water (something that used to be free!). Founded in 2008, TapIt is working with cities to map out places of businesses that have agreed to provide free tap water refills. Several businesses sign on as partners and these partners can be found on city maps. Have an iPhone? There’s an application to let you know the nearest TapIt partner location.

According to TapIt, they are “. . . not just about going bottle-less; less bottles, less recycling, less water privatization and extraction,A it’s about understanding why those things are a problem and finding new and sustainable 21st century solutions.” They also claim to be advocates for health, since sugary drink substitutes are often what people will succumb to if unable to find free fresh water.

So far, New York City is the only city available, but TapIt is working hard to coordinate with other cities to make the TapIt project a reality across the nation.

You can learn more at http://www.tapitwater.com/