The publicly-owned water company is the main sponsor for the Victoria Pier stage in Lerwick, which will host a variety of entertainment including an extensive programme of local and visiting musicians throughout the four-day event.
Scottish Water supplies water and waste to 2.61 million households and more than 150,000 business premises, and employs over 30 people in the islands. It is one of the UK’s top-performing water companies.
People enjoying the Tall Ships festivities will be able to stay hydrated using Scottish Water’s top-up tap at Burns Lane in the town centre. It is part of a long-running campaign to reduce the volume of single-use plastic consumed across the country. Some additional temporary taps will also be installed alongside.
Its stand during the Lerwick Tall Ships event – which runs from 26-29 July – will focus on information about Scottish Water’s main campaigns.
These include Nature Calls, an initiative aimed at asking people to bin and never flush wet wipes – as well as supporting a ban on wipes made with plastic to prevent pollution in rivers and oceans, and Your Water Your Life, which highlights the value of Scotland’s drinking water.
Scottish Water’s regional corporate affairs manager Gavin Steel said the company was “really pleased to be part of such an important event for the whole community – and very much looking forward to it.”
Gavin said: “Our top-up tap at Burns Walk, opposite the Albert Dock, has been helping people to stay hydrated when they’re out and about in Lerwick since it was installed in 2019.
“Topping up from the tap and using a refillable water bottle is good for you, good for your pocket and the best choice for the environment too.
“We’ll have some extra taps on hand during the event in readiness for some busy days, and members of our team on site to talk to people about our work to take care of Shetland’s world class drinking water and unique natural environment.”
He added: “We’ll have some refillable water bottles to give away, made from recycled marine plastic, and fun activities to get everyone thinking about the part we can all play in looking after the water we rely upon – from source to tap, and sink to sea.”
Shetland Tall Ships Ltd. project manager Emma Miller said it was great to have Scottish Water on board, and it will be “a great way to remind the public to stay hydrated throughout the event – and we are bound to have some lovely hot weather!”
She added: “It’s a great chance to engage with their team on what we can all do to keep our water systems flowing and hear more about the work they do every day for our community.”
Photo: The under-16 lasses of Lerwick Boating Club, who helped launch Lerwick’s Top up Tap in 2019. Photo: Scottish Water/Malcolm Younger
