FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 28th, 2024
CONTACT:
Emma Johnson
ejohnson@council.nyc.gov
347-864-4925
Council Member Keith Powers Announces Hearing on Bill to Require More Water Fountains with Bottle Fillers in New York City
The Hydration for All Act will guarantee adequate water fountains and bottle fillers for the needs of New Yorkers
NEW YORK – Today Council Member Keith Powers announced his bill, the Hydration for All Act, will receive a hearing before the Council’s Committee on Environmental Protection, Resiliency and Waterfronts. The bill requires the City Department of Environmental Protection to install 500 new water fountains by 2030. The new fountains must include bottle fillers and be accessible to those with disabilities. Additionally, the bill requires that at least 50 fountains must be installed in each of the five boroughs.
Access to clean, safe drinking water is a basic human right. Everyone – including New York’s most vulnerable populations – deserves access to water. Especially during the hottest months, heat exhaustion and dehydration can be dangerous, and even deadly. Clean drinking water, available in public spaces, is critical to keeping New Yorkers safe and healthy.
89% of the water fountains in New York City do not include bottle fillers. In a world that continues to feel the effects of climate change, we need public services that encourage everyone to do their part, and filling a reusable water bottle is one of the easiest and most accessible first steps to living a sustainable daily life.
Despite the City’s admirable progress on installing new water fountains in the past decade, we can and we must do more. Additionally, there is very little publicly available information on how many city-managed locations have fountains, and if any of those fountains need maintenance. My office conducted a district survey this summer where we found that of the 37 park spaces in our sample, 35% did not have fountains at all.
“The ‘Hydration for All Act’ is a crucial step towards a healthier and greener New York City. By requiring the installation of 500 new drinking fountains, we are not only encouraging healthy habits – we are also reducing our plastic waste,” said Council Member James F. Gennaro, Chair of the New York City Council’s Committee on Environmental Protection, Resiliency & Waterfronts. “I am proud to support this bill, and encourage my colleagues in the New York City Council to sign on to this bill. Drinking water is a right – not a privilege!”
“I am proud to co-sponsor Intro. 900 which seeks to install 500 drinking fountains with water bottle filling stations by 2030, supporting not only the health and well-being of the community, but also reducing New York’s carbon footprint by encouraging the more environmentally responsible option of reusable water bottles. Environmental protection is an urgent priority for New York City and it starts at the local level with initiatives such as this legislation that Council Member Powers has introduced,” said New York City Council Member Julie Menin.
“Clean, accessible drinking water is a right, and essential to any healthy lifestyle. With Intro 900, the Hydration for All Act, we will make that a reality for all New Yorkers.” said Council Member Sandy Nurse. “Expanding the amount of drinking fountains and bottle fillers will be critical as we work towards reducing single-use plastics in our city and creating a sustainable future for our communities.”
Council Member Shaun Abreu said, “The ‘Hydration for All Act’ will not only reduce our dependence on single-use plastics but will also promote healthier lifestyles for all New Yorkers. Clean, accessible drinking water should be a basic right in every community, and I am proud to co-sponsor legislation that helps us move closer to that goal. Congratulations to Council Member Powers for successfully leading the way toward a healthier, cleaner city.”
Senator Liz Krueger said, “With increasingly searing hot summers coming to our city thanks to the climate crisis, ensuring that New Yorkers have access to drinking fountains in public places is a critical protection for public health and safety. And ensuring those fountains promote reusable water bottles instead of more oil-based plastic waste is a critical part of the fight against climate change and environmental degradation. I thank Council Member Powers for introducing this future-oriented legislation.”
Assemblymember Tony Simone said, “All New Yorkers deserve access to clean drinking water. Representing a district that is always on the move, there is a great need for public hydration stations. I am very supportive of Council Member Powers’ bill and hope it is enacted soon.”
“Climate change from the use of fossil fuels is causing our summers to grow hotter over time, posing significant health risks, particularly to elderly New Yorkers and those who live in environmental justice communities,” said Karl Palmquist, Chairperson of the Sierra Club New York City Group. “Those same fossil fuels are the feedstock of plastic bottles, which individuals use to stay hydrated in the growing heat when they do not have better alternatives. Drinking fountains are a double solution, helping individuals stay healthy in the debilitating heat while reducing the reliance on these disposal items. We applaud Council Member Powers for his introduction of the Hydration for All Act, Intro. 900, and look forward to working with NYC Council Members to reduce our city’s reliance on plastic.”
“Installing drinking water fountains and water refill stations is a fantastic way to provide free water to the public and cut down on single-use plastic water bottles. This bill is good for health and for the environment and will be welcomed in many communities, especially on the increasingly hot days that have gotten worse due to climate change,” said Judith Enck, President Beyond Plastics and former EPA Region 2 Regional Administrator.
Jane Selden, Chair of WasteNøt/350NYC, said “Council Member Powers’ Hydration for All bill is a transformative step forward towards reducing the billions of single use plastic water bottles discarded in New York City each year. The sourcing, production, and disposal of single use plastic not only contributes to the climate crisis, but has a disproportionate impact on environmental justice communities. Microplastics from bottled water are in our food, water, hearts, lungs, and blood, creating health hazards. In addition, decreasing the cost of transporting discarded bottles will benefit the city budget. Year-round access to ubiquitous outdoor water refill stations, strategically placed in public parks, playgrounds, plazas, and esplanades, will encourage New Yorkers to break the bottled water habit by providing them with a convenient, healthy, environmentally-friendly alternative.”
“This bill is a no-brainer that will help out all New Yorkers looking to enjoy our fantastic drinking water on a hot day. Many people already carry reusable water bottles with them when travelling around the city, so creating refill stations will help them save money and reduce plastic litter in our communities”, said Matt Gove, Mid-Atlantic Policy Manager, Surfrider Foundation.
Sharon Waskow of It’s Easy Being Green, an Upper West Side Climate Education and Personal Action Group, said “The Hydration for All Act is a planet forward solution to the waste and pollution created by discarded single use plastic water bottles. Attractive water fountains, placed throughout the city will send a message to all that there’s no need to buy bottled water. Just bring your own container and fill it up!”
“This bill will encourage constituents to Bring Your Own Containers to fill and will contribute to a reduction of single use plastic bottles which end up polluting our water systems with microplastics. It also provides a free and healthy alternative to sodas”, said Karen Goodheart, Head of Bring Your Own Container/ UWS Reduces, an affiliate of US Reduces and Beyond Plastics.
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Council Member Keith Powers represents New York City’s Council District 4, covering Carnegie Hill, Central Park South, Garment District, Koreatown, Midtown East, Midtown West, Murray Hill, Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town, Sutton Place, Times Square, Tudor City, Turtle Bay, Upper East Side, and Waterside Plaza.