NI Water is calling on the public to join its tap water "refillution" this week as the utility returns to the Balmoral Show with a focus on environmental sustainability. Visitors to the Eikon Exhibition Centre can visit the NI Water Tap House at stand EK101 to enjoy fresh, chilled drinking water and take a proactive step against plastic pollution.

The stand offers a relaxed space for guests to grab a reusable cup and learn about the journey of their drinking water, from treatment to testing. To celebrate the campaign, those who snap a photo in the dedicated water bottle seat will receive a free reusable water bottle.

Since its inception in 2019, the Refillution initiative has distributed over 50,000 reusable bottles to people across Northern Ireland who have pledged to choose tap water over single-use plastics. The campaign is part of a wider effort to protect local marine life and natural waterways from the damaging effects of plastic waste. Anna Killen, NI Water Education Officer, highlighted the scale of the plastic issue: "People in Northern Ireland use around 420 million single-use plastic bottles every year. By switching to a reusable bottle, everyone can play their part in reducing plastic waste that can end up polluting our rivers and seas. Refilling with tap water also helps lower our carbon footprint, as bottled water is up to 900 times more carbon intensive than tap water."

She added: "We're encouraging everyone visiting the Balmoral Show to join our refillution campaign by choosing to refill rather than buy single-use plastic bottles. Together, we can make a real difference. So, visit our Tap House, enjoy a drink, refill your bottle and help protect our environment from plastic pollution that can block drains and harm our precious natural waterways."

The Balmoral Show runs at the Eikon Exhibition Centre from Wednesday 13 May to Saturday 16 May. For those unable to attend, more information on NI Water's environmental and education initiatives is available at niwater.com.