I think this type of behavior might have a lot to do with it:
http://gothamist.com/2014/06/12/water_fountain_or_dog_bidet....
We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health
181–190 of 200 posts
Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health
#182Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't know how it is these days, but the last time I flew through London (maybe 5–7 years ago), I had to connect from LHR to LGW. In one of them (I think LGW), I went searching for a water fountain and couldn't find one. I finally asked an employee, who told me there weren't any.
Not true. There is one (there must be by law). They don't have to tell you where it is though.
> Not true.
I didn't say that there wasn't one (now or then), only that I couldn't find one, and that an employee told me there wasn't one—and both those facts are true.
Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health
#183Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not true. There is one (there must be by law). They don't have to tell you where it is though.
> Not true. I didn't say that there wasn't one (now or then), only that I couldn't find one, and that an employee told me there wasn't one—and both those facts are true.
There is on just after security to the right in the north terminal and it's been there for at least 5 years.
Also... "Responding to Prof Colbourne's comments, a spokesman for airport operator BAA said drinking fountains offering free water were already installed at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Southampton airports."
This is from 2002... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-355500/Free-water-...
Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health
#184Earlier quoted context omitted.
Portland, Oregon has them all over: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benson_Bubbler
Indeed! I haven't seen a "normal" drinking fountain in Portland in ages. That said, I have seen homeless people do unspeakable things with them, so my trust is rattled.
I've seen them used as birdbaths, and people let their dogs drink from them. It doesn't make me terribly excited about drinking from them myself.
Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health
#185Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ditto rome. It just comes out of the wall in places.
And (last time I've been) it was excellent water. Strange seeing other tourists paying for the expensive mineral water next to a running tap. (they probably didn't know that the water is fine or didn't care).
When I was a tourist in Rome I didn't know what they were for at first. After some research I became an enthusiastic Nasoni user. I really like the trick where you plug the end and the water comes out of a hole on top of the spout like a drinking fountain.
Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health
#186Been seeing these water bottle refill stations pop up around: http://blog.hughessupply.com/files/2011/11/EZH2O_Single_L_Fi...
I've seen these at the PDX airport and nowhere else. I would love it if they'd become more common.
Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health
#187In Manhattan, almost everyone carries water bottles (CambelBak is common) or they refill their store bought water bottles which are carried in bottle pockets on their knapsacks.
Columbia University (at least some schools there) give out water bottles and have special water fountains which have an overhead spout that fills water bottles and has a LED counter.
Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health
#188Earlier quoted context omitted.
There's fecal matter regardless of where you are. [0] Water coming out of the faucet isn't typically in contact with the exterior of the aerator. The amounts are non-harmful (although possibly still a bit disgusting when you stop to think about it). [0] http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/mythbusters-da...
Yes, we are all familiar with the Mythbusters episode, which does not take anything away from the fact that particulates will be in higher concentrations inside a public restroom. Increased concentration means increased risk of transference and consumption. As to your other point, people are not only touching the external edges of the aerator, but the aerator itself, which water does come in contact with. Lastly, the…
Increases dramatically to what? I don't think there have ever been any cases of people being made ill due to drinking water from the taps in a public bathroom anywhere.
Interestingly, the water from the kitchen cold tap in a house is cleaner and safer than bottled water - according to a harm reduction leaflet for IV drug use in the UK, may be different in other countries, admittedly.
Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health
#189Earlier quoted context omitted.
And (last time I've been) it was excellent water. Strange seeing other tourists paying for the expensive mineral water next to a running tap. (they probably didn't know that the water is fine or didn't care).
When I was a tourist in Rome I didn't know what they were for at first. After some research I became an enthusiastic Nasoni user. I really like the trick where you plug the end and the water comes out of a hole on top of the spout like a drinking fountain.
had a good guidebook with me when I was in Rome. It said that the water is excellent and showed the trick with the hole - so I knew it and used it.
Mostly I filled a pretty small bottle with water and carried that around. Didn't had to carry much, because I could refill it on nearly every corner.
Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health
#190Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't know about the rest of Europe, but in Germany bars have to provide free tap water if you ask for it. They also have to offer at least one non-alcoholic drink that's cheaper than the cheapest alcoholic drink, IIRC.
> but in Germany bars have to provide free tap water if you ask for it. That's a myth, they can charge whatever they want for it. > They also have to offer at least one non-alcoholic drink that's cheaper than the cheapest alcoholic drink That is actually true.
Interesting. Apparently it's an extremely widespread myth but a myth nevertheless:
http://www.swr.de/marktcheck/restaurant-irrtuemer-top3/-/id=...