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Arlington parks staff give commission inventory and cost estimate for fountain upgrades
Summary
DPR told the Park and Recreation Commission it maintains 86 drinking fountains countywide, 16 of which are non‑frost‑free; converting a unit to frost‑free costs about $30,000–$40,000, while installing a new fountain where no service exists can run $40,000–$50,000, and DPR uses operating funds for replacements.
Mike Simmons, division chief for Parks and Natural Resources at Arlington’s Department of Parks and Recreation, told the Park and Recreation Commission that DPR maintains 86 drinking fountains across county parks and trails and relies on two full‑time plumbers for fountain and related water‑works maintenance.
Simmons said the system includes about 70 frost‑free units, which operate year‑round, and 16 non‑frost‑free units that are turned off from Nov. 15 to March 15. "Most of the time the renovations are the ones that take care of installing new water fountains," he said, adding that winterized units tend to develop more mechanical problems after long idle periods.
On costs, Simmons told commissioners converting a non‑frost‑free fountain to a frost‑free unit typically runs in the "$30,000 to $40,000" range because of excavation and burying lines below the frost line; installing a fountain where no nearby water service exists is usually higher—"probably upwards $40,000–$50,000," he said, because crews must locate and bring a water source to the site and handle permitting and connection work.
Commissioners asked how conversions are funded. Simmons said DPR funds conversions and replacements from operating dollars in the park maintenance budget rather than a stand‑alone CIP line, and that DPR generally targets two to three conversions a year when budget and priority permit. "Sometimes there's accidents that happen that take out a water fountain. So that kind of stimulates a new water fountain being put back in," he added.
On maintenance, Simmons described common failure modes: small debris, sand and mulch (frequently from playgrounds and sand volleyball pits) clog lines and bowls; buttons can stick on units that are not used year‑round; and older units may lack available replacement parts. He said vandalism of fountains is "very low" and that frost‑free units show far fewer winter‑season problems.
Commissioners pressed for more detailed cost information. One asked for a breakdown between equipment, labor and permitting; Simmons said the department does not have a ready‑made breakdown in the presentation but offered to provide past invoices and a cost breakdown to staff for follow‑up. The commission also discussed bottle‑filler additions when replacing units, and coordination with regional partners (for example, NOVA Parks on the W&OD Trail) where land ownership and water access complicate siting and cost sharing.
Simmons said DPR does not track gallons dispensed by fountains in a way that isolates fountain use from other park water uses (spray grounds, restroom meters) and acknowledged that usage meters often combine multiple fixtures on a single service line.
What’s next: staff agreed to request and circulate invoice details and a cost breakdown for typical conversions and new installs, and to schedule follow‑up briefings (including a future briefing on restroom infrastructure) if the commission wants more detail before proposing policy or budget recommendations to the county board.
