Fashion Week Fountains

by eroyte

New York City’s Dept. of Environmental Protection has partnered with Aveda to provide tap water – for free! – during Fashion Week at six fountains around the city. Here’s a picture of one water rig.

I don’t think it’s lovely. But I’m glad if the fountains will depress sales of bottled water and spur New Yorkers and visitors to think about the ubiquity and quality of tap water. The fountains will stay put for a week: how I wish a sponsor would step in to support them permanently. And so long as I’m asking, why not design something more attractive, something that inspires confidence in the output? (Fire hydrants put me in mind of dog urine).
There are plenty of cool designs out there – fountains with dual spigots: one for sipping and one dedicated to hygienically refilling bottles.

Here’s the press release from the DEP:

DEP, Aveda to Promote NYC Tap Water During Fashion Week

“NYC Water on the Go” Stations in Manhattan Will Help Reduce Use of Plastic Water Bottles

Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway was joined by Aveda’s Creative Director Antoinette Beenders today to announce a partnership to make New York City tap water (NYC Water) available for free at Manhattan locations throughout Fashion Week. New Yorkers and visitors to the City will be able fill their own reusable bottles with NYC Water from one of six “NYC Water on the Go” stations around the City. The goal of the initiative is to raise awareness about the waste that plastic bottles generate, and engage the fashion community to eliminate it.

“New York City tap water is among the highest quality and best tasting in the world,” said Commissioner Holloway. “We are thrilled to work with Aveda, an environmental leader, to remind people that there is a great-tasting alternative to bottled water and the waste it generates — and it comes right out of the tap.”

“Aveda is an activist brand at heart, so we are thrilled to partner with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection in being a force of change in helping to raise awareness of water issues,” said Chuck Bennett, vice president of Aveda Earth and Community Care.

Working collaboratively to help reduce Fashion Week’s environmental footprint, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will set up “NYC Water on the Go” stations promoting NYC Water as an environmentally friendly alternative to bottled water. The stations will be installed at the following locations: