Thirsty in Bethlehem? Most of the public drinking fountains don't work

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A combination of disrepair, vandalism, underground piping issues and a general lack of demand has taken a toll on the city's public drinking fountains.

There now are only five or six working fountains left out of a total 19 in the city, Public Works Director Michael Alkhal said.

The revelation comes while broader public water access is something officials have discussed for some time, city council was told at a meeting last week.

During the meeting's public comment segment, Southside resident Jesse Almodovar, who is known as "Handstand Jesse," said he primarily walks to get where he needs to go.

And with that and the increasing temperatures outside, Almodovar said, he often needs something to drink.

He said that while he knew of some fountains working at Rose Garden Park and Fairview Park on the city’s West Side, he often comes across some that aren’t operational.

“It’s kind of hard to be walking places where I gotta go and be really, really thirsty and see the water fountain, get excited to drink from it, only to have it not work,” Almodovar said.

“And then I’m hot there again, so now I have to go even further, hoping that there’s a store or someone that’s nice enough to give me some water.”

He said that doesn’t mean he never buys his water when needed, but he said he felt basic hydration should be offered for free.

He said some businesses have “shunned” him away when he’s asked.

“I can understand wanting a soda or something — yeah, I’ll buy that,” Almodovar said.

“But if I just want something to drink to get me moving throughout the day, perk up my energy, there should be nothing wrong with stepping in and just asking for" it.

'A systemic question'

A significant amount of infrastructure needs to be “looked at or rebuilt” to get all the city’s water fountains in working order, Councilwoman Rachel Leon said.

“Water access, for me, is just a basic right," Leon said.

“And we continue to push for water access in our parks as a bare minimum, and we continue to work with Mr. Alkhal and Public Works to accomplish that.”

For now, Alkhal said his staff is keeping track of fountain use at Fairview Park to give city staff a better understanding of the demand moving forward.

Making appropriate changes across all the city’s fountains could be costly, though.

“Some of these costs are probably thousands and thousands of dollars, because you’re looking at old piping and things like that," Mayor J. William Reynolds said.

"But it’s probably a systemic question that is deserving of an answer.”

'Stop by City Hall'

In the meantime, people are definitely willing to share at 10 E. Church St., the mayor said.

“I think it goes without saying … if you stop by City Hall, we’re never going to turn you away from any water,” Reynolds said.

He said he hoped others in the city and in general would do the same for those in need.

Reynolds said that a related conversation is ongoing about offering public restrooms in the downtown area.

Some public park restrooms have been vandalized previously and can be costly to repair, he said.

Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith said city staff should search for potential grant funding to get some of the fountain projects done, because the weather is only getting warmer.

The first day of summer is June 20, just over three weeks away.

“We had our hottest summer last year," Crampsie Smith said. "God knows this summer may be just as hot, if not hotter.

“It’s a conservation issue. It’s a climate change issue.”