Not a drop to drink indeed

Posted on June 26, 2009 by PolicyFrog

As a follow-up to today’s Freep story on the missing water connection for food vendors in newly renovated Old Market Square, I have to ask: Why wasn’t a public drinking fountain also included in the new park plans?

The City likes to talk a good game about sustainability these days, hosting a recent symposium on the topic and featuring it prominently as part of the Speak Up Winnipeg process. But it continues to miss opportunities to back up that talk with concrete action, both large and small.

One water fountain in a prominent location isn’t going to save the world, but it might encourage a few people to refill their own bottles rather than going with the disposable option at the next noon-hour concert or outdoor Fringe performance. And since it’s spending eight bazillion dollars to upgrade the water treatment plant, shouldn’t the City be a bit more aggressive in promoting its own ‘free’ product?

Furthermore, are there any clean, modern, functioning public fountains in outdoor locations in this city?

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8 Responses

  1. Mr. Nobody, on June 26th, 2009 at 5:21 pm Said:

    Good point PF, its not only that the City misses minor details which add up, its they have a major problem focusing.

    Fountains are central to piazza’s in every village . But hey, why copy something interesting when we can just continue to build dull prairie idea’s….must be the Ukrainian influence…seriously.

  3. Tony Danza's Brother, on June 27th, 2009 at 7:59 am Said:

    Wow, PF. Really hitting the hard issues these days. Vying for a gig at OB as well, I suppose :)

  4. Kenton, on June 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm Said:

    Here’s what I don’t get: what was with all the construction: the park looks exactly the same, but for a tilt in the ground in front of the open stage. Where’s the dome? The robot butlers? The life-sized Rhino statue?

  5. Disinterested Observer, on June 27th, 2009 at 6:42 pm Said:

    You’re right. Millions later, it’s like the Floodway Expansion, only smaller.

  6. Paul, on June 28th, 2009 at 7:21 pm Said:

    Great point. It would be nice when out biking on a hot day to have a few public water fountains around to refill my water bottle instead of having to go through the trouble of refilling at a hospital, etc.

  7. Devin, on June 29th, 2009 at 7:33 am Said:

    Wow.
    Can you imagine if someone said “it must be the Aboriginal influence” ?
    Classy.

  8. Jamie, on June 29th, 2009 at 5:00 pm Said:

    Thanks Devin, I was going to say the exact same thing.

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