This week it was revealed in The Sun newspaper that Starbucks has a policy of keeping a tap running non-stop at all its 10,000 outlets worldwide, wasting 23.4 million litres a day globally.  The figure is truly astounding. But what is more amazing is that the coffee chain was condemned for this by the UK water utilities.  These are the same water utilities that waste that same huge amount through leaks in just 8 minutes – and that is just in one country.

The Sun discovered that every Starbucks branch has a cold tap behind the counter providing water for a sink called a “dipper well”, used for washing spoons and utensils.  Under the company’s health and safety rules, the taps are left running to provide a constant flow to stop germs breeding in the taps.  The newspaper estimated that the UK branches of Starbucks consequently wasted 1.63 million litres a day.

It was reported that water companies accused the firm of harming the environment by frittering away a vital natural resource.  A spokesman for Water UK, which represents tap water companies, was said to be horrified at the newspapers findings, commenting: “It is wasteful and unnecessary.  There is absolutely no need to keep taps running.”

Jeremy Clarke, director of the Natural Hydration Council, responded: “It is absolutely right to clamp down on water waste in the UK.  It is just flabbergasting that the single biggest waster of water in this country – the tap water industry – should see fit to chastise others.

“It is not for me to comment on why Starbucks fears that germs might build up in its taps, but the estimated 1.63 million litres that goes down their plugholes each day in the UK needs to be addressed.  However, that same amount is wasted in just 30 seconds through leaks from our water utilities.  Surely it is about time that the water utilities got their own houses in order and addressed their own substantial waste before they started attacking others?”

See the full article from The Sun here.