FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: May 12, 2016

CONTACT: Ian Gavigan (ian.gavigan@phila.gov) 215.686.3408

Councilwoman Gym Introduces Bill to Mandate Operational Water Fountains

in Philly Schools
Thousands attend schools without sufficient access to clean drinking water, according to District
data
PHILADELPHIAIn response to Council and student demands for a water fountain inventory,
the School District of Philadelphia released data on Wednesday showing that 15% of all District
water fountains are non-operational. The data showed that operational water fountains are not
equitably distributed across District schools; some have shocking shortages of operational water
fountains. Among the findings were that nearly 2,400 students at Franklin Learning Center,
Dobson Elementary, and Moore Elementary have just one functioning water fountain.
The findings substantiate claims voiced by a member of Philly Student Union on February 18th,
at the Education Town Hall hosted by the joint committees on Children and Youth and
Education. The student spoke of the lack of clean drinking water in school and dehydration
among student athletes.
Today, Councilwoman Helen Gym (At Large) introduced a bill to require all schools in
Philadelphia to maintain at least one operational water fountain for every one hundred students.
The bill was introduced with Councilmembers Henon (6th Dist., Majority Leader), Blackwell
(3rd Dist., Chair of Education), Bass (8th Dist., Chair of Public Health), Quiones-Snchez (7th
Dist., Chair of Licenses and Inspections), and Domb (At Large). If passed, the bill will require
every Philadelphia school to have at least one functioning water fountain per one hundred
students, effective ninety days after the bills passage.
The School District water fountain inventory took place after students and community members
organized and demanded action, said Councilwoman Gym. Access to drinking water for all
children is a human rightand this bill will help ensure that the District honors and fulfills this
moral responsibility.
Providing our children with water is a matter of public health. When children are dehydrated it
negatively impacts their physical and cognitive performance. It is unacceptable for any child in
our city to not have access to water. As chair of public health, ensuring that children have access
to safe drinking water is a top priority for me, said Councilwoman Cindy Bass.
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