We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health • Hacker News Board

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#21

Post by beambot » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 9:33 PM UTC

jobu wrote: post #17

freditup wrote: post #11

Let's start with the assumption (not necessarily true) that one who drinks from a public water fountain consumes significantly more germs than one who drinks bottled water. Is this even a bad thing? I would think that this regular exposure could help strengthen the immune system. I'm personally uncertain if anything like this is backed by research.

When I was elementary school age I saw some older kids at the park taking turns peeing on a drinking fountain (and laughing). I have used public drinking fountains since, but only when the need was severe. There has to be a better option.

Reminds me of the Parks & Rec episode where they're trying to prevent residents from putting their mouths entirely around the fountain's spout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujpnXoMeXmY Hilarious.

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#22

Post by rrss1122 » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 9:33 PM UTC

nosuchthing wrote: post #5

Been seeing these water bottle refill stations pop up around: http://blog.hughessupply.com/files/2011/11/EZH2O_Single_L_Fi...

I've seen those too. I don't care whether or not they have a filter (my water bottle does), but I do like that it just makes it way more convenient to top off the water bottle. Before, I had to tilt the bottle and that would mean I couldn't fill it all the way.

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#23

Post by dandanisaur » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 9:34 PM UTC

I think it might be impossible for those of us who have used fountains, but now don't trust them anymore. I've seen people urinating/vandalizing fountains in Metro Detroit and would never use them again.

*I think someone mentioned this below too.

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#24

Post by Sleaker » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 9:35 PM UTC

hmmm article sites Causation but really means correlation.

"The disappearance of water fountains has hurt public health. Centers for Disease Control researcher Stephen Onufrak has found that the less young people trust water fountains, the more sugary beverages they drink"

- That doesn't sound like an actual study to me, just a hunch....

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#25

Post by MBlume » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 9:37 PM UTC

freditup wrote: post #11

Let's start with the assumption (not necessarily true) that one who drinks from a public water fountain consumes significantly more germs than one who drinks bottled water. Is this even a bad thing? I would think that this regular exposure could help strengthen the immune system. I'm personally uncertain if anything like this is backed by research.

Back in the 80s, the concern was not germs, but heavy metals. That's 100% understandable. If somebody told me there was lead in my tap water (and I believed them) I'd switch to bottled water in a heartbeat. But according to the article, the municipalities responded and got the metals out of the water, so I guess the problem is misinformation?

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#26

Post by Nadya » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 9:38 PM UTC

Sleaker wrote: post #24

hmmm article sites Causation but really means correlation. "The disappearance of water fountains has hurt public health. Centers for Disease Control researcher Stephen Onufrak has found that the less young people trust water fountains, the more sugary beverages they drink" - That doesn't sound like an actual study to me, just a hunch....

Closest research I could find by Stephen:

http://www.researchgate.net/publication/259824170_Perception...

Can find the rest of his publications here:

http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stephen_Onufrak/publicat...

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#27

Post by gingerlime » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 9:39 PM UTC

When I visited Sofia, Bulgaria, it was amazing to see people carry bottles over to this square where there's natural hot spring water. The water really tastes great and it was so much fun just being around there. People don't seem to feel awkward about bringing lots of bottles with them and stocking up on water.

In Berlin, where I live now, there are fully functioning manual water pumps in some streets. People don't really use them much, but there's something quite charming about them too.

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#28

Post by davidw » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 9:45 PM UTC

I've always found it kind of funny that in "capitalist" US, there is free water all over the place. It's one of my favorite things to drink good, clean water for free in Portland after getting off a long flight from Europe. In "socialist" Europe, you're pretty much stuck with expensive bottled water in places like airports, unless you have a cup or something and don't mind drinking from the bathroom faucets.

OTOH, one of the great things about cycling in Italy is that every little teeny tiny town has a water fountain, usually near the church or town square. Even on the hottest days of summer, you could probably get by with one small water bottle if you're willing to stop regularly.

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#29

Post by bryanlarsen » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 9:45 PM UTC

NhanH wrote: post #2

When I first came to US, I didn't mind drinking public fountain. But one day, I walked by one and a dog was drinking from it, licking all over it in the process. From that day onward, I stopped. Still, I have to wonder: is that reasonable of me? And otherwise, is it expected to let your pet sharing the same water source with human?

Given the abrasive nature of the dog's tongue and the anti-septic nature of its saliva, if the fountain wasn't clean before the dog used it, it certainly was afterwards.

But it doesn't really matter if the outside of the fountain is clean or not as long as you don't actually put your mouth on the fountain. All you care about is the water pipes inside the fountain, and those are just as clean as water pipes any where else.

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#30

Post by dmishe » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 9:45 PM UTC

NhanH wrote: post #2

When I first came to US, I didn't mind drinking public fountain. But one day, I walked by one and a dog was drinking from it, licking all over it in the process. From that day onward, I stopped. Still, I have to wonder: is that reasonable of me? And otherwise, is it expected to let your pet sharing the same water source with human?

If you don't actually touch the faucet and let the water run for a few seconds before drinking it, what's the danger? Anything that the dog would've put on it would be washed away, no?