Bottled water at Festivals

Subject: RE: Bottled water at Festivals
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 May 08 - 04:45 AM

I usually have a bottle of water with me - and it's usually been refilled from the tap a goodly number of times.

You're right, it isn't good for the environment to keep buying plastic bottles, but sometimes it's the only way to get a cold drink that isn't alcoholic, fizzy or stuffed with nasty sweeteners. I would use my canteen if I could, but it's metal and clanks a lot... very distracting in concerts and I'm enough of a distraction as it is. At least with the majority of plastic bottles now you can recycle them and know you're doing a small bit to reduce waste. I was appalled at the amount of waste from one campsite and wondered if more could be done to improve the recycling facilities there - Towersey festival is one example where there are specific bins on the arena field, for recycling cans and plastic bottles.

There are certain performers who even go so far as to stipulate the brand of water they require in their contracts... and then go on to sing about saving the planet!

LTS

Subject: RE: Bottled water at Festivals
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 May 08 - 04:37 AM

I remember when tap water was palatable, but due to the interference of the EEC it is now chlorinated and sterilised, and buggered about in so many ways, that it is is either insipid or tasting of chemicals.
I agree however that the surge in bottled water is worrying, but I attribute it to the crap nature of our tap water.

G

Subject: RE: Bottled water at Festivals
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 28 May 08 - 04:33 AM

Yes, and it's not only bottles that get finished. I confess to occasionally forgetting which is my half-drunk bottle backstage and opening a new one - and judging by the number of half full/empty (according to your personality type) bottles I'm not alone. For clubs I carry a bottle in my stands bag which I ask the bar staff to fill - though they occasionally refuse, not understanding that the water is an essential tool not skinflinting - and that beer or pop simply doesn't work anyway. But at festivals there's a lot more hanging about, and it's usually a lot hotter, plus the bar is often miles away, so backstage water is essential. Would the jugs get refilled, though, if there was no tap in the tent? Maybe a big tank with a whale pump and - ah, just spotted a flaw... plastic cups. Maybe we should all just lie on the floor and get someone to pump it straight into our mouths! Shall we try it at Gower Saro? T

Subject: Bottled water at Festivals
From: Saro
Date: 28 May 08 - 04:21 AM

When I'm singing, I drink a lot of water and I'm always delighted when organisers provide some water backstage or onstage. However, I'm getting concerned about the amount of bottled water that is being used - can't be good environmentally with all those transport costs not to mention bins full of plastic bottles at the end of the event. So...I'm starting to ask organisers if they can have a jug of water, or one of those big vacuum flasks which can be refilled from....wait for it...the tap! Anyone with me on this?

By the way, well done to Fred and Norma at the Cause in Chippenham for providing jugs of water - even though it meant potentially less income for them.

Saro