The City of Phoenix was named a finalist in the 2025 IDC Smart Cities North America Awards for the Chilled Drinking Water in Public Spaces Initiative. IDC's Smart Cities Awards recognize successful projects and initiatives that use technology innovation to solve challenges in partnership with communities and the smart city ecosystem.
Launched in January 2025, the City's Chilled Drinking Water Initiative is a significant step towards addressing the community's need for access to chilled drinking water in high-density areas of the city. These areas are frequented by people who bike, walk, and use public transportation to get to work, school, and medical appointments. The pilot, in partnership with Downtown Phoenix, Inc., includes three custom-designed, smart drinking water stations with bottle fillers located at the entrance of Phoenix City Hall, near the Phoenix City Council Chambers, and along the Sonoran Bicycle pathway into Downtown Phoenix, near Roosevelt Street and Third Avenue.
The systems include heat-mitigating technologies to withstand extreme summer temperatures, remote-sensing devices to track water use seven days a week, and leak detection. Since its launch, the three units have delivered the equivalent of more than 116,000 average-size bottles of water to residents and visitors while considerably reducing single-use plastic waste. This is a significant step towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly city.
"Organizations throughout North America continue to find new ways to provide services for their communities and improve the experience of working in, and with, the public sector," said Ruthbea Yesner, vice president of IDC Government Insights, Education and Smart Cities. "Every year, we see more advancement in the types of technologies and projects deployed, and it is a privilege to celebrate all of this year's applicants."
IDC's 2025 Smart Cities North America Awards will be presented to the winning Smart Cities and Communities at the Smart Cities Connect conference in San Antonio, TX, April 14 – 16, 2025.
About IDC:
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,300 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries.
Media Contact:
Athena Sanchez
Sr. Public Information Officer
602-621-0507
Athena.Sanchez@phoenix.gov
