Dresden fights against heat: free drinking stations for everyone!

Von NAG Redaktion

Dresden fördert kostenlosen Zugang zu Trinkwasser mit öffentlichen Brunnen und Refill-Stationen zur Gesundheitsvorsorge und Klimaanpassung.
Dresden promotes free access to drinking water with public fountains and refill stations for health care and climate adjustment. (Symbolbild/ML)

What's new in Dresden? The city is actively committed to ensuring that all citizens have access to free drinking water. There are currently eleven public drinking water fountains in Dresden and a proud number of around 80 refill stations. These can be found in shops, cafes and other public institutions and are primarily intended to help dehydrated people such as children, older fellow citizens and homeless people to get through the hot summer months. Because if you drink too little, you quickly run the risk of getting health problems, especially at high summer temperatures. The city sees the provision of drinking water not only as a service, but as an important part of general interest.

These initiatives are also related to the challenges of climate change. With the Refill campaign, which the club a tip: tap e. V. is organized, the city is supported by many others and emphasizes the importance of free water supply. Interested parties who want to set up a refill station can find information on the urban website.

drinking water as an elixir of life

The city administration has set itself the goal of promoting health care through this access. Health experts agree: frequent drinking is a simple but effective means of preventing heat -related diseases such as heat creation or cramps. The Second Law to Amend the Water Resources Act since January 2023 supports this course by making it clear that drinking water wells are part of general interest in public locations. According to this, municipalities are obliged to set up such wells wherever it is technically possible and appropriate to the local needs.

Locations recommended are, among other things, parks, pedestrian zones and shopping arcades, i.e. places that are often frequented by many people. Here everyone should be able to supply fresh water without much effort.

drinking water supply and global challenges

At the global level, the question of water supply is also of great importance. According to the United Nations, 2.2 billion people worldwide have no reliable access to clean drinking water, and 3.5 billion live without adequate sanitary care. Climate change and population growth continue to put pressure on the availability and quality of water. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) therefore aims to improve water security and promote innovative solutions. Some of these global efforts are also in line with local initiatives, because good water management can support both adaptation to climatic changes and promote the health of the population.

Dresden shows how smaller municipalities can make a contribution in the water supply through clever measures in order to ensure the health and well -being of their citizens. A good cooperation between different actors is also promoted here to master both local and global challenges.

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