Wessex Water have specialist resources and equipment to provide drinking water at ‘HydroZones’ on the course route and in the Runners Village at the 2022 Bath Half Marathon.

Andrew Taylor, Race Director of the Bath Half Marathon, said: “We’ve been steadily working to reduce the environmental footprint of our event for many years and after a successful trial in 2019 we were one of the first large road races in the UK to replace plastic bottled water in 2020”.

The Bath Half Marathon was the first public event in Bath & North East Somerset, and the first road race in the UK to win a prestigious Greener Festival Sustainability Award in 2020.

“It is important that runners have easy access to drinking water during the race and after the finish. Runners are typically self-sufficient and are used to carrying their own water on their training runs.  We want to make it as easy as possible for runners on the day, with refill points at clearly marked HydroZone water stations and cupped water for those who prefer not to run with a bottle. Paper cups are collected and composted by a local processor.”

Branded Bath Half reusable dishwasher-safe runner’s bottles can be purchased through the event website – CLICK HERE TO ORDER – and a limited number will be available for purchase in the Information Tent on race weekend.

Kirsty Scarlett, Wessex Water’s Head of Community Engagement, said: “We’re on a mission to reduce single-use plastics, installing water refill points across our region to encourage people to drink more tap water and avoid plastic bottles.

“So we’re proud to be keeping runners and their friends and family supporting them hydrated at this year’s Bath Half, becoming the first UK water company to partner with a road race of this scale.”

Based in Bath, Wessex Water provides water and sewerage services to 2.8 million customers and supports a variety of local events.

The company is always well represented in the Bath Half, and among their runners this year is Lucy George, Delivery Manager who says “I’m not a natural runner but having a goal of a great event like the Bath Half Marathon to aim for gives me the push to commit to training! I’m running for WaterAid whose objective is to provide clean water and decent toilets to everyone, everywhere. What’s not to love?”