Australia’s bottled water companies have already donated more than $2 million in product to community agencies and emergency services during Victoria’s bushfire crisis.

In an effort to help wherever possible, many more companies are on stand-by with shipments ready for transportation when agencies such as Foodbank require more stock over the coming weeks.

Members of the Australasian Bottled Water Institute from New Zealand are also ready to send shipments to Victoria awaiting requests from Foodbank.

The effect of bush fires on municipal water supplies means that Victorians will continue for some time yet to rely on bottled water for their personal consumption and the industry is committed to meeting this need. Australia’s major water bottler Coca-Cola Amatil immediately donated more than 30,000 bottles of Mount Franklin and Neverfail to Victoria’s most hard-hit areas, as did Schweppes, Fosters and Big Springs Riverina.

Bottled water is a vital part of Australia’s natural disaster and terrorism emergency response program.