Title
Office of Innovation Access to Chilled Drinking Water Initiative Update
Description
This report provides the Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee with an update on the Office of Innovation's Chilled Drinking Water in Public Spaces initiative.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION
Report
Summary
In January 2024, the Office of Innovation launched the Chilled Drinking Water in Public Spaces pilot program to expand access to free, chilled drinking water in Downtown Phoenix, in partnership with Downtown Phoenix Inc. Three water stations were installed in the Downtown area: in the Marvin A. Andrews Plaza, near the public entrance to Phoenix City Hall; in Cesar Chavez Plaza, near the City Council Chambers; and at Roosevelt Mini Park, Third Avenue and Roosevelt Street, which also serves users of the Phoenix Sonoran Bikeway. The custom-designed systems include an internal chiller, heat-mitigation materials and design, a purge valve to prevent water from heating within the unit, vandalism-resistant materials, remote water-usage and leak-detection monitoring, and more. During the past 12 months, the three units have provided the equivalent of more than 100,000 16.9 ounce, average-size plastic bottles of water.
A data-driven approach is informing this initiative at every stage, including the creation and use of a mapping tool that combines various datasets, including land-surface temperatures, proximity to public transit and bicycle pathways, vulnerability index data, among others. Ideas from the Innovate Phoenix Challenge hackathon, with more than 100 participants, have been incorporated into the project. Community and business surveys continue to provide important insights related to functionality, maintenance and placement of the units. Of the110 residents who answered the pilot survey, 55 percent identified areas in and around public buildings as ideal locations and 38 percent near public gathering spaces. Most community members surveyed stated that they would not use public fountains if they appear to be dirty, malfunctioning or not located in convenient areas. Access to chilled drinking water in public was the second most requested item during the 2024-25 Community Budget Hearings. An analysis of social media conversations during the 2024 heat season by the Communications Office, May 1 through October 26, 2024, identified the Chilled Drinking Water initiative as the second most discussed topic related to City-led heat mitigation efforts .
The City's Public Works, Water Services, Parks and Recreation, and Community and Economic Development departments, Office of Homeless Solutions and Phoenix Convention Center are participating partners. Downtown Phoenix Inc. (DPI) Clean + Green Team is supporting the daily cleaning of the Downtown locations and DPI Ambassadors are directing people to the new Downtown systems. HandsOn Greater Phoenix and community volunteers are providing support and daily cleaning of the Roosevelt Park location. The City continues to receive local, national and global media attention, including a story on National Public Radio's Morning Edition, Telemundo, Fox 10, ABC 15, 91.5 FM KJZZ, and Monocle, a digital, international-affairs magazine. A dynamic, digital map was created to make it easy for residents and visitors to find locations.
Six additional units are planned in the next few months, near Herberger Theater Center, at the Homeless Solutions location in West Phoenix, two units at the new Central Station, and two units at Desert West Park in West Phoenix. A citywide survey was launched in December to gather additional community feedback from across the city, with nearly 200 responses to date.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager John Chan and the Office of Innovation.