Q&A
DEP's concerns about expanding its role in providing drinking fountains
0:51:19
·
77 sec
Council Member Powers asks about DEP's concerns regarding the proposed legislation to install more water bottle refill stations. Commissioner Aggarwala explains the challenges of expanding DEP's scope of activities.
- DEP is concerned about expanding into a new line of business
- There are limitations on what water bill payments can be used for
- Funding for such projects would come from the same source as other city departments
Keith Powers
0:51:19
Got it.
0:51:20
And so in your testimony noting that had expressed concerns or opposition to the bill based on access to water, which is one of your main goals and missions.
0:51:33
I understand the cost factor of it.
0:51:34
But are you Are there concerns that go beyond the cost of it in terms of installing?
0:51:41
And
Rohit T Aggarwala
0:51:41
Well, first of all, it's I mean, we we do we are concerned whenever the scope of our activities are are expanded.
0:51:52
And your this proposed legislation would ask would basically require a DEP to get into a line of business.
0:51:59
It has not been in in the past.
0:52:02
And so we would need a a new set of operations.
0:52:06
And, you know, it is often assumed that everything DEP does can be funded by water bills.
0:52:13
But in fact, the state legislation that authorizes the water board does lay out what water payments can and cannot be used for, which means that a project like this would come out of the same pot of money that it would if the Parks Department or the Schools or DOT through its street furniture.
0:52:34
Contracts were asked to provide this.
