Ken says: Don't bottle it - ask waiter for tap water

Thames Water and the Mayor of London are to launch a campaign today to promote tap water in restaurants, cafÈs and pubs.

The London on Tap scheme urges people to use less bottled water. It also plans a competition to design a recycled glass water carafe which can be used in restaurants across the capital.

"The message is very simple: don't be embarrassed to ask for tap water when you eat out," said Mayor Ken Livingstone. "You will save money and help save the planet. By drinking less bottled water, we can cut the climate change emissions coming from its production and transportation, and cut the problem of disposing of used bottles."

A Panorama programme last night claimed government departments spent £1.3 million on bottled water last year, with councils across England and Wales spending £4.8 million. Experts analysed the carbon footprint of a glass of water, finding London tap water used 0.3g of CO2, while Volvic used 185g and Evian 172g.

However, a recent National Consumer Council study found one in five people are "slightly nervous" or "too scared to ask" for tap water.

The centrepiece of the campaign will be a competition to design a carafe made from recycled glass to serve tap water to customers.

"The idea of the carafes is to help Londoners take a stand against one of the biggest con jobs of the last two decades," said Jenny Jones, Green Party member for the London Assembly. "This is a simple, money-saving way to brush up your eco-credentials."

Thames Water chief executive David Owens, said: "Luckily in London we have probably the best drinking water in the world. We should all be proud to drink it. At less than a tenth of a penny a litre, it's up to 500 times cheaper than bottled water."

The scheme was also backed by Environment Minister Phil Woolas. "I believe there is no place for snobbery about tap water, and no excuse for making people feel small if they ask for it. If this move by Thames Water and the Mayor of London gives people confidence to ask for what they want in restaurants that has to be a good thing."

Environmentalists also welcomed the campaign.

"Shipping water around in bottles, sometimes over thousands of miles, is mad from an environmental point of view," said Friends of the Earth executive director Tony Juniper.