Skid Row Gets Water Fountains In Preparation For Hot Summer

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — In preparation for a sweltering summer, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has installed new water fountains on Skid Row to help the homeless keep cool.

Two drinking fountains were hooked up to fire hydrants on Skid Row, KPCC reported, and five others were hooked up to hydrants in other parts of L.A. County with sizable homeless populations.

The fountains were a welcome addition to the community, and will likely provide the homeless with relief this summer, community advocate "General" Jeff Page said on Instagram.

In the past, volunteers at rescue missions have handed out water bottles during heatwaves. But providing drinking water around-the-clock has been a challenge.

The installation of the fountains came at no cost to the city, a spokesman for Mayor Eric Garcetti told KPCC, since the fountains were already owned by the DWP, and were installed by workers in the course of their normal shifts.

The City Council on Wednesday also voted in favor of placing a $1.2 billion bond to combat homelessness on the ballot in November.