Water Works is a community/campus collaboration which operates on the simple premise that clean, healthy, and free drinking water should be accessible to everyone, especially at places where children and families live, learn, and play.
Water Works is an ongoing collaboration between UEPI’s Healthy School Food Coalition and Community Health Engagement with California Food Policy Advocates (CFPA) and other community partners to examine Los Angeles’ drinking water infrastructure and improve its accessibility in public places such as schools and parks. We are excited to share a new fact sheet, "Drink Tap" which is available in English and Spanish.
Ubiquitous access to, and visibility of public drinking fountains can promote increased water consumption as a healthier and low cost alternative to bottled beverages. Tap water is tested more frequently for safety concerns than bottled water, and when reusable bottles are used, it lessens the environmental impact of packaging, delivering and recycling bottled water.
During the Spring 2014 semester, a team of students from the practicum class collaborated with community partners and two other College courses, ArtsM 242 Projects in Documentary and Chem 240L Integrated Concepts in General Chemistry (Lab), on the Water Works project to conduct an environmental assessment of city parks in Northeast and South Los Angeles, in order to assess and document the availability and condition of public drinking fountains. This unique interdepartmental collaboration is highlighted in the Thirsty LA video (produced as part of Oxy Freewaves: FLOW) below.
If you would like to participate in Water Works research and assessment or would like more information, please contact Heng Lam Foong.