Header: © Christian Morkeberg, Northside Festival

As environmental concerns grow, the event industry is seriously considering its ecological footprint. One major area of improvement? Reducing the amounts of plastic waste generated by single-use bottled water. It’s time to reverse our plastic habits and start facilitating drinking tap water again.

Here’s why this shift is essential in reducing waste and how to make it happen.

© Dopper & We Love Green Festival

Why tap water?

Every year, millions of plastic water bottles are sold at festivals. These bottles contribute to pollution and rely heavily on fossil fuels to produce and transport. By switching to tap water, you can reduce the environmental impact of your event while aligning with global sustainability standards.

Key benefits of embracing tap water:

• Plastic waste reduction: Eliminating single-use plastic bottles reduces waste generated at events.
• Lower carbon footprint: Offering tap water reduces emissions related to the production and transport of bottled water.
• Enhanced visitor experience: With accessible refill stations and reusable bottles, attendees can stay hydrated sustainably.

How to make the shift to tap water: A step-by-step guide

Dopper and Green Events jointly developed the “Tap water at clubs and festivals” model, offering five practical steps to help you create a more sustainable event. 

1. Offer tap water
   Install tap water refill stations across key event areas, ensuring visitors can access drinking water quickly.
2. Allow reusable bottles
   Encourage attendees to bring empty refillable bottles and ensure security briefings allow for this. Clear guidance on your website can help streamline the process.
3. Promote reusables
   Actively promote reusable bottles among your audience, artists, and crew. This can be through pre-event communications and on-site signage.
4. Phase out distribution and sales of single-use packaged water
   Gradually eliminate the sale of packaged water like PET bottles, cartons and cans. Instead, offer tap water at bars for free or at a regular drink price.
5. Commit to tap water only.
   Make tap water the only water option available. Enhance the offering by providing filtered or chilled tap water and selling reusable bottles to those needing one.

© Björn Comhaire, Paradise City Festival & Dopper

Be inspired by leading events

Several leading festivals have already implemented measures to facilitate tap water towards their audiences:

• Sziget (HU) has reduced its plastic waste significantly by offering tap water and limiting single-use bottled water.
• Awakenings (NL) and We Love Green (FR) have embraced refill stations and reusable bottles, encouraging visitors to make more sustainable choices.
• Paradise City (BE) and Into the Great Wide Open (NL) have been serving chilled (and carbonised) tap water at the bar, preventing the sales of single-use plastic bottles. Check out their supplier: Robinetto. 

Join the movement

Ready to make a positive impact? Here’s how you can start your tap water transition:

1. Assess your current water setup and identify areas where refill stations can be installed.
2. Update your event policies to allow reusable bottles, and promote this policy across all event communications to audiences and the security crew.
3. Replace packaged water sales with tap water options at your bars and kiosks.

© Ania Shrimpton, Shambala

Dive deeper into tap water & plastic recycling. Please read further here:

• ADE Green: Tap into Dutch tap water 
• Why sorting won’t save us about plastic recycling
• Debunking tapwater myths
• Microplastic in plastic-packed water, what’s the issue