What You Should Know About Drinking from a Public Water Fountain

When you drink from a public water fountain, have you ever stopped to consider the risks? The most notable risks from drinking from a water fountain include: Viruses, bacteria, the quality of water, and whether the water fountain meets all the government established safety guidelines.

The government is responsible for regulating drinking water fountains. These guidelines were put in place in order to protect the welfare of the public. Unfortunately, some people who install water fountains don't know about these regulations, or choose to not follow them. In either case, it is a serious violation of public safety and health. When a water fountain is installed, it is best if the fountain was given a guarantee of quality and inspected by a government official.

It's no secret that viruses and germs can be found on all types of publicly shared items. Items such as: Benches, playground toys, door handles, public restrooms, grocery carts, and drinking water fountains. Improvements have been made to water fountains to better protect people from germs and viruses. For example, improvements were made on the angle of the spout where the water comes from. The accessibility of the spout has been improved. Filters at the source of the water have been improved. Even the basin design, of the drinking fountain, helps to make the water from the fountain safer and cleaner.

Brief History of Drinking Water Fountain Safety

At the start of the 20^th century, there was an epidemic of illnesses related to public drinking fountains. Back then, the spout had a vertical flow, instead of the now familiar angled flow. The government realized that the vertical water flow was the culprit. In fact, they compared drinking from a fountain as everyone just sharing the same cup. They then took action and made vertical flow spouts illegal. They also enacted a series of laws and regulations in regards to the cleanliness and quality of public water fountains.