From left: Jamie Tulp, East Hampton Village Beach Manager; Rick Lawler, Village Trustee; Rose Brown, Village Trustee; Barbara Borsack, Village Trustee; Paul Rickenbach, Village Mayor; and Tim Motz, Suffolk County Water Authority Director of Communications at Main Beach with one of two hydration stations donated by SCWA to the village.
The Suffolk County Water Authority and the Village of East Hampton recently unveiled two new "hydration stations" at Village beaches, marking a unique collaboration aimed at reducing the waste of plastic water bottles and raising public awareness about the safe and constantly tested public water supply.
The stations offer beachgoers an easy way to refill reusable water bottles. It is estimated that tens of millions of plastic water bottles are thrown out in the United States every day.
Under the arrangement, SCWA paid for the hydration station, with installation, maintenance and electricity provided by the Village.
“The Village of East Hampton greatly appreciates these donations from the SCWA,” said Mayor Paul Rickenbach. “The hydration stations located at Main Beach and Herrick Park are high visible and high traffic locations here in the Village that will certainly impact the usage of plastic water bottles. Installation of these stations will compliment the Village’s sustainable practices and policies. We urge all residents and visitors to take advantage.”
"We’re very proud of the water we serve and also of our reputation as a company with a strong commitment to sustainability," SCWA Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey W. Szabo said. "This collaboration with the Village of East Hampton emphasizes that the commitment to sustainability is shared by town and Village officials as well."