Perth's New Top Up Tap Leaps Into Operation

Perth High Street’s latest addition will make it easier for residents and visitors to the ‘Fair City’ to top up refillable water bottles and stay hydrated on the go.

North Perthshire MSP and Deputy First Minister John Swinney was joined by fellow Perth MSP and Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham MSP, as well as representatives of Perth & Kinross Council, to get the tap officially flowing today (Friday, February 28).

The Perth tap is the 22^nd to be installed so far across Scotland.  A total of 70 are set to appear all over the country by April 2021.

This new Top up Tap is a great addition to Perth’s High Street. I hope people will make good use of it, whether they are using the city centre to shop, exercise or visit our outstanding cultural venues and hospitality businesses.

The River Tay has always been at the heart of Perth and our community’s story. This tap brings the supply of clear, fresh and great-tasting drinking water that it brings us right to the heart of the city.

John Swinney – Deputy First Minister

We want all of our customers to love their water – and to help us care for the environment that makes it available for us to use.

Today is a particularly good day to bring a new Top up Tap to the fair city. Tomorrow, Saturday 29^th February, is a day that traditionally turns the tables and offers an opportunity to make a special commitment.

We don’t normally make proposals, but why not make the leap to carrying a refillable bottle and topping up regularly with Scotland’s world class drinking water?

Brian Lironi – Director of Corporate Affairs at Scottish Water

Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Roseanna Cunningham MSP launched the first Top up Tap outside the Scottish Parliament in October 2018. Since then, new taps have appeared all over the country from Dumfries in the south to Lerwick in the north – and there are many more still in the pipeline.

I’m delighted to have been involved in Top up Taps – a project which has been welcomed with enthusiasm by communities the length and breadth of Scotland. More and more people are carrying refillable water bottles and using them to keep hydrated – benefiting their health and saving money, while playing an important part in promoting the circular economy and nurturing our environment. It’s great to have a Top up Tap now available in the heart of Perth – and I look forward to seeing many more appearing around the country over the coming months.

Roseanna Cunningham MSP – Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform

Perth & Kinross Council has worked closely with Scottish Water over recent months to support the Top up Tap’s installation.

This is a great initiative that I am pleased to be able to support. It will make it even easier for people to conveniently enjoy the benefits of Scotland’s tap water on the go. Using a refillable bottle is not only good for the environment, it also helps people to save money and stay hydrated. We’re delighted to have this new facility on Perth’s High Street, and we look forward to working with Scottish Water to encourage everyone to top up from the tap.

Angus Forbes – Convener of the Environment & Infrastructure Committee at Perth & Kinross Council, Councillor

Since the first Top up Tap was launched in Edinburgh in October 2018, more than 55,000 litres of water have been consumed from Scottish Water’s expanding network of Top Up Taps – the equivalent of more than 167,000 standard 330ml single-use plastic bottles.