The council also endorsed a proposal from State Sen. Michael J. Barrett '70 to amend a state water protection act to include Cambridge reservoirs.

Currently, the Watershed Protection Act includes Boston reservoirs, but omits Cambridge's main water supply at Hobbs Brook and Stony Brook, Barrett said. Since Cambridge would draw on other sources of water in the area in the event of a shortage, Barrett said the measure could also affect several neighboring towns.

"As a practical matter, the failure of the Cambridge water system would represent a crisis for all of Greater Boston," said Barrett.

In other business, the City Council:

.Urged the U.S. Congress not to take any action limiting Social Security or Medicare benefits.

.Resolved that "the city manager and all city employees rededicate themselves to go the 'extra mile' in dealing with others." The move was prompted by President Bush's campaign pledge for a "kinder and gentler" nation, the order said.