Banning Bottled Water

September 26, 2009 05:07pm

THE very last bottle of still water has been run out of Bundanoon in the New South Wales Southern Highlands, as the sleepy hamlet officially became the world's first town to boycott bottled H2O.

The residents of Bundanoon in July voted 355 to one to ban commercially bottled water, in an effort to reduce the town's carbon footprint.

Bundanoon launched the Bundy-on-Tap initiative at a parade and an official switchover today, attended by 400 locals and visitors. Free water stations on the main street and school were turned on for the first time, while Bundy-on-Tap reusable bottles went on sale across the town.

The four water stations will be open 24 hours a day.

Free chilled water will also be available in the town's stores.

Bundy-on-Tap organiser and local businessman Huw Kingston said it was a proud day for Bundanoon, a couple of hours south-west of Sydney.

"From something to go from an idea to reality, I think there is a lot of pride in the town today," he told AAP.

Mr Kingston said the ban had put Bundanoon "on the map", and he was confident it would inspire other towns to adopt similar boycotts.

"It is catching on - there are a lot of towns worldwide that have been in touch about this, and obviously we're happy to help as a small community," he said.