Some Pittsburgh Public Drinking Fountains Still Haven't Been Turned On

PITTSBURGH, PA — During one of the hottest summers on record, some Pittsburgh public drinking fountains still haven't been turned on, according to a report issued by city Controller Rachael Heisler.

Fountains remain off despite the uproar that occurred in June with the revelation that none of the city's approximately 200 fountains had been turned on because only one plumber was on the city payroll.

Employees from Heisler's office visited 20 water fountains across the city between Aug. 1 and Aug. 6 and found 13 of them were on but 7 remained off:

• Brookline Memorial Park and Recreation Center, Brookline

• Wightman Park, Squirrel Hill

• Jack Stack Park, Brighton Heights

• McBride Park, Lincoln Place

• Riverview Park & Playground, Perry North

• Woods Run at Central Avenue, Marshall-Shadeland

• Costa Court, Larimer

“The city has clearly made progress in turning on the water fountains, but it’s already August and our inspections suggest the job is not yet done,” Heisler said in a statement. “That’s disappointing and, considering the extreme heat we’ve experienced this summer, it’s dangerous."

Calling the problem an avoidable one, Heisler added: "I hope the administration is taking all the steps available to them to finish the job in the short term and to make sure this doesn’t happen again next year.”