Reading Liberal Democrats call on Council and Thames Water to bring free drinking water to Reading's parks

Reading Liberal Democrats are calling on Reading Borough Council to partner with Thames Water to install a network of free public water refill points in Reading's parks and town centre — replicating a successful £5 million programme already delivered in London.

The campaign comes amid successive record-breaking summers, with 2025 the warmest on record and 2026 on course to rival it. Research from the University of Reading warns that heatwaves will become more frequent and more severe in the coming decades, with Britain potentially reaching 45°C by 2056.

Despite this, Reading has no public drinking fountains in any of its parks — including Prospect Park, Palmer Park and Forbury Gardens — and no dedicated public refill infrastructure in the town centre beyond the machine at the railway station. Residents without easy access to free water are being pushed towards single-use plastic bottles, the production and disposal of which contributes to the very carbon emissions driving the climate emergency.

In London, the Mayor partnered with Thames Water on a £5 million programme — each contributing £2.5 million — to install over 100 free drinking water fountains across the capital. Crucially, Thames Water also committed to owning, cleaning and maintaining every fountain for 25 years at no cost to the Mayor or site owners, addressing the longstanding concern that public fountains fall into disrepair through vandalism and neglect.

Thames Water's headquarters are based in Reading at Clearwater Court on Vastern Road. Reading Liberal Democrats have written to Thames Water's community team asking whether they would be willing to explore a similar co-funded partnership here, and are calling on Reading Borough Council to take the same initiative the Mayor of London took.

Cllr James Moore, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Tilehurst Ward, said:

"When you're out in Prospect Park on a hot summer's day with your family, you shouldn't have to choose between buying a plastic bottle or going without water. The Mayor of London recognised that and acted — Reading Borough Council should do the same.

"Thames Water's headquarters are right here on the banks of the Thames in Reading. The model exists, the funding mechanism exists, and Thames Water has shown they are willing to be a partner. All that's missing is a council willing to pick up the phone."

Reading Liberal Democrats have also raised the issue on social media, where residents have highlighted the lack of refill points across the town.