The promised public drinking water fountains have mutated into glorified vending machines as you can see – not really any form on innovation and certainly not the promised function of external points across the city where people can fill up their bottles.  We wait for the next developments from city hall.

The article is shown to the right and is available to be downloaded from our website by clicking on the link –   the-times-drinking-water-fountains-24092009. The Times article was commenting on the unveiling of the 1.2metre public drinking water fountain which is the first to be built in the park for thirty years.

Covering not only the history of public drinking water fountains in London, the article looks to the future of the drinking water fountain in London and the etiquette when drinking from such facilities.

The etiquette section of the article ends with the comment “Clamping one’s mouth around the nozzle is prohibited” – words that have rung true since the first installation of a public drinking water fountains in London in the middle of the 19th century.

Having a clean drinkable water supply is something every human on the planet should have access to. Water is essential to our survival and everyday life, without it our health would diminish significantly. However, many countries in the third world still do not have access to clean drinking water.

Fortunate nations such as the United Kingdom and the United States have trade associations who govern the safety of their country’s drinking water supply. Luckily for the developing countries, these associations sometimes delve into supporting and encouraging the developing countries with the progression of their drinking water supply.

Last year, the Drinking Fountain Association (DFA) donated money to a village in Zambia to assist in the education of hygiene and install a drinking water well, and provide sanitisation equipment. The village never had access to a drinking water well prior to this, in the past the children would have to walk for more than two hours to collect water from a small unclean waterway. Zambia was chosen as it was rated 165th out of 177 countries in the Human Development Index. The lack of access to clean water and sanitation, coupled with disease has left more than half of Zambian children with severe illnesses and malnutrition. After the donation from the DFA children can now bathe safely and regularly in clean water as well as grow nutritious crops with the clean water from the well.

It’s important to remember there are people in the world who need help from more fortunate countries, especially in the area of clean water supply. Drinking Water Fountains is aware of the help that is required and will be working on a plan to support developing nations in the near future.

Water fountains were originally created for functionality, to supply water for drinking or to bathe in. In Ancient Rome they started to create water fountains for aesthetic and decorative purposes in courtyards and gardens. Now there are many types of water fountains in the world, drinking water fountains, garden water fountains and even musical water fountains. Since we know a thing or two about water fountains, even if it’s mainly drinking water fountains, we thought we would share our appreciation for what we believe are the three most beautiful water fountains in the world today.

Number Three
Fountains of Bellagio, Las Vegas, United States

This magical water fountain puts on an astounding visual spectacular for the tourists of Las Vegas with its water jets, coloured lights and timed music. It’s a must see on the Vegas list and nearly everyone who has been to Vegas has seen the Bellagio Fountains Show and been very impressed with it.

Number Two
Fontaine des Innocents, Paris, France

The Fontaine de Innocents water fountain is the oldest monumental public fountain in Paris. It was constructed to welcome King Henry II into Paris in 1549 although work on the fountain started in 1547 and took almost three years to complete. Paris had a very poor water supply system so the fountain only produced a small amount of water, but it’s gorgeous design and architecture made up for any shortcomings.   

Number One
Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy

The Trevi Fountain in Rome is the number one most beautiful water fountain the world and attracts thousands of tourists to Rome each year. It’s particularly spectacular at night, once the fountain becomes illuminated by spotlights in the water and on the sculptures on the fountain. It’s popular to throw coins in the fountain to make a wish or for good luck and it’s estimated that nearly 3000 Euros are thrown in the fountain every day. The money is collected and used to subsidise projects for the less fortunate citizens of Rome.

As the school holidays start the Children’s Food Campaign have launched a national  campaign to improve drinking water provision in public parks.  After playing in warm summer weather, the lack of drinking fountains in many parks mean that thirsty children have no choice but to buy drinks that often contain more calories than their exercise has burned.

Drinking Water fountains were a key feature of the public parks established to help people live healthier lives in the 19th Century because clean water was not widely available. As that changed, fountains fell into disrepair or were removed altogether. The CFC wants local authorities to provide adequate drinking water in all UK parks to ensure that children have access to free drinking water.

But a spokeswoman for the Local Government Association, which represents more than 350 councils in England and Wales, rejected the CFC’s concerns – “Water fountains are provided in many places, but decisions have to be made about how they will be maintained, whether they offer value for money, and whether they will be safe from vandalism.”

Drinking Water Fountains has noticed a gradual increase in interest in outdoor drinking water fountains over the last five years from local councils. One such council has started an initial trial of a single public drinking water fountain and by Christmas 2009 the council is expected to make a decision on up to 50 more fountains across the city. This is the first major installation of fountains in this area in over 50 years. Such drinking water fountains tend to be custom made and DrinkingWaterfountains.co.uk have been involved in this custom development from design to installation.  The increase in interest in public drinking water fountains at a local authority  level has taken off within the last two years as they look to upgrade existing facilities or simply install in new areas.

However the majority of external drinking water fountains work we do in schools across the UK involves water fountains from our more basic range of outdoor water fountains. These suit most controlled external environments such as golf courses and schools – but there are distinctly different requirements (largely based around vandalism) for open area fountains.

For more information please email us at contact@drinkingwaterfountains.co.uk.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF PUBLIC DRINKING WATER FOUNTAINS

People can use it to fill up their bottles. Summers are getting hotter – 2008 was the 10th hottest year on record – and it means people can fill up with good clean mains water free and save some money.

For more images of drinking water fountains installed across London’s public spaces please look at the images below – if you have other images which you think should be added to this then please email them to contact@drinkingwaterfountains.co.uk.