WASHINGTON, DC – The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) and dozens of District restaurants today announced they have joined forces to quench thirst in the District while protecting the environment from plastic litter. DC Water and the national network TapIt have recruited more than 60 eateries in the District to offer free water refills to those who bring their own reusable bottles.

District residents and visitors can find TapIt locations at tapitwater.com/dc, on their PC or mobile phones, and iPhone users can download the free TapIt application from the App Store. The website and application identify locations that serve unfiltered or filtered tap water.

“We’re partnering with local businesses to increase public access to drinking water, protect the environment and save people money,” said DC Water General Manager George S. Hawkins. “We encourage residents and visitors to refill their reusable water bottles with our high-quality tap water when out and about in the District.”

“More than half a billion bottles are discarded each week in this country, and only 25 percent are recycled,” said District Councilmember Tommy Wells. “Not only do these bottles add to our landfills, they also end up in our streets, our parks, and our waterways. While TV ads and documentaries have been raising awareness of the issue, up until TapIt, there was not a formal program to give alternatives for those people who are away from home or the office.”

Participating businesses are promoting District tap water that is high-quality, affordable and reliable. DC Water collects hundreds of water samples each week to meet strict water quality standards. The cost of District tap water is less than a penny per gallon, while bottled water is about 1,000 times as much.

District TapIt locations include The Heights, Potbelly Sandwich Shops, Tryst and Mayorga Coffee. Restaurants and cafes interested in joining the network can sign-up on the TapIt website.

The TapIt network was created in 2008 as a way to provide clean drinking water to people on the go - pedestrians, cyclists and others – who carry their own reusable water bottle. The nationwide network now spans 22 states and includes more than 750 locations.

“This network protects the environment, as well as people’s wallets,” said TapIt Campaign Director Will Schwartz. “In fact, users could save up to $700 per year if they were to use TapIt instead of buying a bottle of water each day.”

For more information, please visit dcwater.com/tap or tapitwater.com/dc.