Environmental protection group Mesogeios SOS (MedSOS) has launched a smartphone and tablet application that helps visitors and residents in Greece locate the nearest tap of drinkable water where they can refill their bottles.

The application, which hopes to help reduce reliance on water in plastic bottles and the huge amount of resulting plastic waste, is called Epistrofi stin Vrysi (Return to the Tap) and is available at the Google Play Store for Android and at App Store of iOS. While it is only currently available in Greek, the map showing the location of nearby water fountains is easy to understand.

MedSOS began the initiative in 2014, signing a memorandum of cooperation with the Athens municipal authority, which this year set up three public drinking fountains, at Syntagma and Asomaton Square and at the entrance to the Kerameikos metro station. In 2017, its expanded in cooperation to include the Athens and Thessaloniki water companies, among others.

Official data show that Greece consumes over half a million tons of plastic waste per year.

This article was initially published by ekathimerini.com