Council Member Keith Powers emphasized the importance of clean drinking water, stating, "Access to clean, safe drinking water is a basic human right. Everyone, including New York's most vulnerable populations, deserves access to water." His remarks highlighted the critical need for public water access during extreme heat, aiming to combat heat exhaustion and dehydration, particularly for the most at-risk communities.
The Hydration for All Act, if passed, aims to install 500 new water fountains with bottle fillers. Powers noted, "89% of water fountains in the Big Apple do not include water bottle fillers," stressing that introducing these features is crucial for environmental benefits and to promote healthier hydration habits among New Yorkers.
Despite the bill's vision, DEP Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala expressed skepticism, stating during the testimony, "The proposal is not doable." This raises concerns about the feasibility of implementing the Hydration for All Act within the proposed timeline of installing fountains by 2030.
The council's report indicated a significant shortfall in existing infrastructure, revealing that in a survey of 37 park spaces, "35% did not have any fountains," underscoring the urgent need for improvement to promote public health and accessibility in New York City.
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