TfL reacted by hoping very much that everyone would carry water with them, not because they're especially benevolent but because dehydrated people get ill and disrupt trains. The People Who Display Posters displayed posters. The People Who Write Tweets wrote Tweets. And The Muppets Who Write Tube Announcements broadcast this, repeatedly, at every station on the network.
"Please carry water with you in this hot weather.
Search Refill London for nearby water fountains."
I first heard this message at West Ham station, indeed I heard it there last week. I duly searched for Refill London, as requested, because I have a smartphone capable of doing this. I ended up on the Refill London page, where I was harangued about cookies and signing up to emails. I skimmed down the page and was told I had to download an app. I waited while the app downloaded and then opened it up. I skipped past the bit where they wanted me to set up a profile, having deduced it wasn't compulsory. I waited while thousands of refill stations slowly whirred into place. I confirmed I wanted to find a refill station rather than adding a new one. And eventually the map informed me that there weren't any refill stations near West Ham station, so I'd completely wasted my time.
Same at Plaistow.
Announcement:"...search Refill London for nearby water fountains." App outcome: "We can't find any Refill Stations nearby yet."
Same at Bromley-by-Bow.
Announcement:"...search Refill London for nearby water fountains." App outcome: "We can't find any Refill Stations nearby yet."
Same at Bow Road.
Announcement:"...search Refill London for nearby water fountains." App outcome: "We can't find any Refill Stations nearby yet."
Apparently there are 2500+ Refill Stations in London, just not anywhere near these four stations. But they play the announcement anyway.
At Mile End, better luck. Two Refill Stations popped up, but neither of them were water fountains. One was Starbucks on the Mile End Road and the other was Costa Coffee across the road. It turns out all you have to do is go in and ask staff to refill your water bottle with tap water and they'll do it for free, which is excellent, assuming you have the bottle.
Don't get your hopes up looking for a water fountain. According to Refill London, "The Mayor of London and Thames Water have partnered to install a network of more than 100 drinking water fountains in busy and accessible areas of London." 100 water fountains isn't very many in a capital of 9 million people, indeed it's barely enough for three per borough. Worse, London's current water fountain total stands at only 28, according to a Mayoral press release last week. I used that press release to direct me towards two actual proper water fountains, newly installed, close to Farringdon station.
Here's one in St John's Garden.
Here's another on Clerkenwell Green.
But when I tried opening up the Refill London app, it didn't know they existed. It knew about the Starbucks, Costa Coffee and two specific pubs near the station, plus the Coco di Mama restaurant in Cowcross Street (offering "free water from a jug"). But even though I'd downloaded the app that morning, the two local water fountains failed to appear.
I heard the announcement again at Ruislip Gardens - same words, different voice. The app told me that water was available at Basebox Fitness Studio on New Pond Parade. It also gave me their postcode, Twitter handle and web address, which was useful. Unfortunately I was on the platform and they were four minutes up the road, and I couldn't afford to touch out again, refill and touch back in. But were I local it would be very useful to know the offer was there.
I heard the announcement again at Wood Lane - same words, different voice. The app told me that water was available at the Starbucks in the ticket hall, and indeed it was, not that there was any physical indication outside to alert passengers that water was available inside for free. If the Mayor were serious about Refill London, there'd be at least a sticker.
I should also report that the Refill London app crashed almost every time I used it, usually just after displaying its results. This could be an issue with my phone rather than the app, but I grew bloody tired of reloading it and waiting while the refill stations reloaded too. I wished there was a Refill London map on the Refill London website, but no, they guard their information religiously so it's the app or nothing. Quite frankly you could discard the app entirely and simply walk into a Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Pret or Greggs every time you need water and demand your free refill, it would save a lot of unnecessary digital hassle.
Refill London aims to help prevent plastic pollution in our capital, which is an excellent aim. Refill London plans to install water fountains across London, which may one day be excellent but isn't yet. The Refill app is an excellent idea, but I found it impractically unreliable to use. And the Muppets Who Write Tube Announcements should think again about their less-than-excellent Refill London wording.
"Please carry water with you in this hot weather.
Search Refill London for nearby water fountains."
It's not about water fountains, it's about water refill stations, and that's a somewhat different concept. Also please don't waste our time by playing your generic announcement at every tube station, you muppets, not if there are zero water refill stations nearby. And it's just a thought, but perhaps install some water fountains on your own property rather than expecting everyone else to provide them for you.
