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The great drain robbery: Starbucks pours millions of litres of precious water down the drain at its coffee shops

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 6, 2008 at 7:59 am

Thanks to David over at Westchester Parents for sending me this one! From the U.K.’s Sun (which I think is similar to the Enquirer -?):

STARBUCKS was blasted by environmental experts last night after The Sun discovered it pours millions of litres of precious water down the drain at its coffee shops. The giant coffee chain has a policy of keeping a tap running non-stop at all its 10,000 outlets worldwide, wasting 23.4 MILLION litres a day. That would provide enough daily water for the entire two million-strong population of drought-hit Namibia in Africa or fill an Olympic pool every 83 minutes.

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. Staff are banned from turning the water off under bizarre health and safety rules — bosses claim a constant flow stops germs breeding in the taps.

Starbucks has built up a massive chain, popular with coffee drinkers from Hollywood stars to builders, and proudly boasts of its work for the environment. But water companies accused the firm of HARMING the environment by frittering away a vital natural resource.

Apparently, this is also done in the Starbucks on this side of the big pond, too, so says the undercover team which went worldwide in their investigation. You can find out more about this shocking story, even view the photos & videos evidence from the U.K.’s Sun by clicking here!

October 6, 2008 · Filed Under Conservation

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