Quenching Community Thirst: Planning for More Access to Drinking Water in Public Places
By Nicholas Kushner, AICP
National policy and action toolkits have begun drawing attention to drinking water access. The White House initiative Let's Move, in its "Action Steps Toolkit for Mayors and Local Officials", states that these officials should "require access to free and safe drinking water in public places".
The Institute of Medicine's Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity also lists the following advice:
"Strategy 7…Increase access to free, safe drinking water in public places to encourage consumption of water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages…Adopt building codes to require access to, and maintenance of, fresh drinking water fountains (e.g., public restroom codes)" (Parker et al. 2009).
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About the Author
Nicholas Kushner, AICP
<p>Nick Kushner, AICP, is a Senior Cross-Systems Planner with the DC Office of Planning (OP) and Project Manager for DC 2050, the District's next Comprehensive Plan. Prior to joining OP in 2024, Nick was a Community Planner with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and Project Manager for DPR’s 20-year Parks and Recreation Master Plan, Ready2Play. Nick has also worked with the DC Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services on Age-Friendly-DC, a citywide plan to make DC accommodating for all-ages, and as a Capital City Fellow with the DC Department of Energy and Environment, where he worked on the city’s long-range sustainability plan, Sustainable DC. Prior to joining DC Government, Nick interned with APA’s Planning and Community Health division where he co-authored the report, <em>Healthy Plan Making</em>. Nick has presented at numerous national and international conferences in the fields of planning, public health, aging, and resilience. Nick has a BA from the University of Minnesota and a Dual Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning and Public and International Affairs from Virginia Tech.</p>