The City of Phoenix was named a winner in the 2025 International Data Corporation (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 by the Phoenix Office of Innovation in January 2025, in partnership with Downtown Phoenix Inc., the Chilled Drinking Water Initiative is expanding access to chilled drinking water in areas where people bike, walk and use public transportation. The pilot includes three custom-designed water stations with bottle fillers located near Phoenix City Hall, Council Chambers, and along the Sonoran Bicycle Pathway into Downtown Phoenix.
“Phoenix is reimagining public access to cool, clean, zero waste drinking water," Mayor Kate Gallego said. "We're using data, community partnerships and new technologies to keep our residents and visitors safe and hydrated during our extreme summer heat. This recognition from IDC is a testament that being a Smart City is as much about the people we serve as it is about the technology that powers us.”
More than 500 residents and businesses provided input through surveys and at the Innovate PHX Challenge hackathon at Venture Café Phoenix. The systems include heat-mitigating technologies to withstand extreme summer temperatures, and remote-sensing to track water use and provide leak detection.
Of those surveyed, the majority said that the most important factor is that the units are clean and well-maintained. Downtown Phoenix Inc. provides daily cleaning and wayfinding services in the Downtown area and HandsOn Greater Phoenix and community organizations and volunteers are supporting those beyond Downtown.
“One of my top priorities since taking office has been to expand access to chilled drinking water stations in District 7 and across Phoenix,” stated Councilman Galindo-Elvira. “I believe it is essential for safety and our economic viability that we continue to develop resources in addressing our city’s rising temperatures. The success of this pilot effort and the acknowledgement from IDC, a leader in Smart Cities, sets us on course to continue our smart, sustainable approach to expand chilled water stations where our residents and visitors need it most.”
Since launching, the pilot stations have delivered the equivalent of more than 116,000 average size bottles of water to residents and visitors, while reducing single-use plastic waste. Additional units are currently being installed in areas across Phoenix.
“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, 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.
