Westchester To Install Water Bottle Refill Stations In Parks

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Old water fountains in Westchester County parks will be replaced with water bottle refilling stations.

The county Board of Legislators passed Monday a $750,000 plan for the parks department to begin replacing the old fountains with modern refill stations.

County Executive George Latimer signed the bond act Tuesday, according to a board spokesman.

An inventory of drinking fountains was taken by the parks department and the funds will be used to replace as many of the old drinking fountains as possible.

Officials said the department will also look to include in future projects the addition of water lines to add fast fill stations where water fountains don't already exist.

Legislator Ruth Walter, D-Bronxville, Yonkers, who proposed the program, said it was exciting the project was going to get underway.

She said single-use plastic bottles are one of the most common items that pile up in landfills and pollute waterways.

"Anything we can do to reduce that is a huge plus," Walter said. "That means recycling of course, but also using refillable water bottles."

She said being able to easily and quickly fill up a reusable water bottle will be a nice benefit for people going to the county's parks.

Officials said the new fast-fill stations will be freeze-resistent and will be usable year-round.