Essen.
Starting next summer, the city of Essen wants to build public drinking water wells in its nine districts. This is the concept.
The city of Essen wants to install the first drinking water fountain on Kennedyplatz in the city center next summer. More water dispensers are to follow – one for each district.
Background: Last October, the city council commissioned the administration to present a concept for publicly accessible and free drinking water fountains, to find suitable locations and to determine the costs incurred. One condition was that the fountains should be erected in central locations that are well connected to the network of cycle paths and local public transport.
The fountain on Kennedyplatz is planned as a pilot project
At the meeting of the environmental committee, the city administration presented its proposals to politicians on Tuesday. Drinking water fountains could therefore be placed in the following places: at Rüttenscheider Stern, on Frohnhauser Platz, on Borbecker Platz, on Altenessener Markt, on Katernberger Markt, on Kaiser-Otto-Platz in Steele, on Kupferdreher Markt, on Werdener Markt and on Mayor-Fiedler-Platz in Kettwig.
The fountain on Kennedyplatz is planned as a pilot project. For all other wells, the approval of the responsible district council should be obtained.
The drinking water fountains should be made of robust material
All drinking water fountains should be built in such a way that they are accessible to everyone, including people with restricted mobility. For reasons of hygiene, models with a stainless steel surface are preferred, which are made entirely of robust material with no moving parts, according to the administration. The wells should be cleaned regularly and checked for possible contamination of the water.
The administration estimates the costs for the procurement, installation and connection of a drinking water well at 15,000. The maintenance costs per system amount to 11,000 euros for an eight-month operating period – with the exception of the frost period.
The city council will deal with the administration’s proposals at its meeting on May 17.
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