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Büdingen reinvents water: Free refill stations for everyone!
The “Refill Büdingen” initiative for free access to tap water to reduce single-use plastic will start on June 15, 2025.
Büdingen reinvents water: Free refill stations for everyone!
On today's World Refill Day, June 15, 2025, the city of Büdingen officially launched the “Refill Büdingen – Büdingen fills up!” initiative. given. This campaign aims to give all citizens free access to tap water in public spaces. The aim is not only to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic bottles, but also to raise awareness of sustainable alternatives. The initiative is coordinated by the “Blue Community Büdingen” working group and has already set up 15 refill stations, which are clearly marked with a blue sticker. These stations can also be found on an interactive “Map of Tomorrow”, which already lists five locations, as FNP reports.
Drinking bottles can be refilled free of charge in shops, public facilities and restaurants. Mayor Benjamin Harris (CDU) and Jochen Heyermann, head of the municipal utilities, see great potential in this initiative, especially among young people. It is hoped that they will not only fill their bottles, but also encourage a change in thinking towards more sustainability. “Good water, less waste and a good hand for the environment,” is how Heyermann describes the advantages of this sustainable measure.
Water is a human right
Büdingen has been part of the global “Blue Community” initiative since 2022, which focuses on access to water. This includes four key principles: access to clean drinking water is a human right, water services remain in public hands, partnerships with international partners are maintained and drinking water from the tap is encouraged. The working group plans to involve other companies and restaurants in the project so that they can also act as “refill stations”.
As can be seen from blue-community.net, the first stations have already been installed in the city library, the “JUZ Casa” youth center, the Wolfgang-Ernst-Gymnasium and the Dohlberg School. The plan is to further expand the network and also turn other public buildings into refill stations. A drinking fountain on the market square in the old town will also be built.
Good for the climate and health
The initiative also comes against the background that climate protection is becoming increasingly important. According to Klimaschutz.de, citizens can not only save money by switching from bottled to tap water, but also relieve the burden on the environment. The consumption of plastic bottles causes high greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting tap water as a climate-friendly product can address this issue.
The challenges should not be underestimated. There are prejudices against drinking tap water, often due to a lack of trust or due to old pipes. Both tap and bottled water are subject to the same health standards and are tested regularly. It is important to educate the population about the quality and safety of tap water in schools, at events and through information stands.
The “Blue Community Büdingen” is characterized by enthusiasm and collaboration. Claus Wilkens, a member of the working group, emphasizes that many people have been brought together around the issue of water. Now it's time to translate this enthusiasm into sustainable actions. If the project continues to gain momentum, Büdingen could become a real role model for other cities when it comes to expanding drinking water networks and the associated services.