PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The national trend for the health-conscious to choose water over sugary beverages has had a downside that’s been disastrous for the environment: tons of disposable bottles clogging landfills and polluting waterways.

The Philadelphia water department says more than half the litter it’s skimmed out of the Schuylkill since 2009 is plastic water bottles– about 260 pounds on every trip the skimmer makes up and down the river.

Water Commissioner Howard Neukrug and other city officials joined members of the rowing community, Friday, to announce what they hope will be at least part of a solution.

The water department will install a network of water “kiosks”– combination water fountains and reusable bottle refilling stations– in hopes of promoting reusable water bottles.

The first four will go along the Kelly Drive between the Falls Bridge and boat house row– the most heavily used recreational trail.

“These kiosks are designed with recreation in mind,” said Mayor Michael Nutter. “The kiosks will be installed by this coming spring and more will be planted in locations across Center City and other parts of Fairmount Park.”

The announcement coincides with the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta– one of the biggest fall spectator events on the Schuylkill.

Rowing officials announced they will give away 12,000 reusable bottles over the weekend and have set up portable refilling stations for athletes and fans.

The Schuylkill Navy banned the use of disposable bottles by rowers, this spring, after a riverbank clean-up yielded 4,600 plastic bottles.

“All we cleaned was 1400 feet of riverbank– a small fraction of the riverbanks in the city,” said Alan Robinson, chair of the newly-formed River Stewards Committee of the Schuylkill Navy, the governing body of the rowing community.

“And we recognized that, a year from now, there may be another 4,600 bottles there again and what have we accomplished?”

The reusable bottles and refilling stations, he says, will send a message.

“Our goal is no less than to build a citywide partnership to eliminate litter from the river, the city and the watershed.”