How many times have you been around Boston and wanted a simple drink of water, but there wasn’t a water fountain in sight? Boston District 6 City Councilor Matt O’Malley would like to increase tap water access in public places including parks and open spaces.
On Thursday, O’Malley will lead a city, neighborhood services and veterans affairs committee hearing about best practices, safety and new technologies of the delivery of tap water. The hearing is at City Hall at 11 a.m. on the 5th floor, and open to the public.
“I think this is a no brainer for the city,” said O’Malley, who first called for a hearing last year on the idea.
O’Malley said he’d like to have more bubblers, water fountains, water filling stations across the city to reduce the number of single use plastic bottles.
Organizations such as the MWRA, DCR and Boston Water Sewer and Commission have been asked to testify at the hearing. So have running clubs such as the Parkway Running Club and the Forest Hills Runners. Health-conscious organizations such as the Boston Public Health Commission and Department of Public Health have also been invited to speak. O’Malley has also invited vendors such as Tapit to speak at the hearing.
O’Malley said he’d like to see newly designed “tap station” that allow people to re-use their own containers in a clean and sanitary way.
“We’re going to discuss the feasibility… and see where it would make sense to implement around the city,” said O’Malley. “And I want to see a pilot program soon.”
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