Oberhausen struggles financially to provide an adequate number of public drinking fountains.
In the heart of the Ruhr region, the city of Oberhausen is facing a challenge in providing more drinking fountains for its citizens. Originally, 35 drinking fountains were planned, but funding constraints have reduced the number to just eight.
As stipulated by the Water Management Act, cities are obligated to provide free drinking water for their citizens. However, in Oberhausen, the installation of drinking fountains is only possible in a few districts due to financial limitations. The Finance Committee's documents reflect this situation, showing that additional funding is necessary for the installation of drinking fountains in the city.
The costs for installing, maintaining, and ensuring hygiene for eight fountains in Oberhausen amount to approximately 134,000 euros. Five drinking water fountains have already been installed by the Rheinisch-Westphalian Waterworks Company in the spring of 2022, with three located in the city center, one in Sterkrade, and one in the district of Holten.
Comparatively, cities like Bochum and Dortmund have more drinking water dispensers than Oberhausen. Bochum, for instance, has nine fixed drinking water dispensers and four mobile ones, while Dortmund boasts 31.
The need for more drinking fountains in Oberhausen arises from the increasing demand for free drinking water during hot weather. The Rheinisch-Westphalian Waterworks Company, responsible for the waterworks of the city, is hopeful that the Finance Committee will secure the necessary funding to install the remaining drinking fountains.
The Finance Committee will meet on Monday to discuss the installation of drinking fountains. While the exact number of drinking water fountains currently available in Oberhausen or the number planned for installation with funding is not specified, it is clear that the city's commitment to providing free drinking water for its citizens remains unwavering.
For accurate and up-to-date information on this topic, it might be beneficial to contact local authorities or water management services in Oberhausen and other relevant cities in the Ruhr area.
The Finance Committee's documents reveal that the city of Oberhausen requires additional funding for the installation of drinking fountains, given the financial limitations. With the current funding, the costs for installing, maintaining, and ensuring hygiene for eight fountains amount to approximately 134,000 euros.
