They save us money, boost community connections, and celebrate the commons.
Public water fountains, which have been disappearing from the streets of our cities for many decades, are an excellent example of what the commons means.
Instead of paying a buck for a polluting plastic bottle of water, we can drink for free from a resource that belongs to us all—and do it in a public setting that helps instill a sense of community. Traditionally fountains have been the meeting place for villages and neighborhoods.
Elizabeth Royte, author of the book Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It, offers a moving argument for more water fountains in the New York Times, noting that Minneapolis and San Francisco are moving ahead with projects.
She also debunks squeamish concerns that water fountains are unsanitary.