this post was submitted on 18 Dec 2024
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Then what are those for compared to just a sink?
For conveniently drinking out of them and filling water bottles in public buildings like schools and hospitals. They're really common in NA, what part of the world are you in?
Germany, we do have a few fountains (but they are really uncommon and would have more in common with a normal tab and sink then the american fountains I've seen). I'd usually just fill up my bottle from a sink at a bathroom when I'm on the go.
I never considered this was a difference, interesting! For a lot of years in school I didn't use a bottle and relied on the fountains exclusively. Also, the bathrooms usually always had the motion activated faucets that just spray warm water with no temperature controls so using them for drinking water wouldn't work. I'm starting to think the way this works in NA might be somewhat overly complicated lol
By googling it, it seems these will filter out some forever chemicals that are a problem pretty much everywhere. It will also cool the water, which might be beneficial if your tap water is a bit on the warmer side (which mine is and it's infuriating, I want to drink near-freezing water)
Note: I'm not American and don't have one of these, just googling.
They are public drinking fountains. These aren't meant to be put in homes or private spaces.
America is absolutely filled with these things. They are everywhere. Public drinking access, no cups required, at an overwhelming number of public institutions. One of the extremely rare W's of American public use infrastructure.
On the few occasions I've been to Europe, I've honestly been quite frustrated at the lack of them. I can't just roll up to a place and have a quick drink, I'm apparently just expected to carry it with me on my person when I leave my place of stay, or buy a disposable bottle of something from a shop. Even if there are public faucet taps available, I guess I'm expected to be carrying a drinking vessel already, or stick my face under the faucet and slurp awkwardly from the falling stream?
I'm just baffled public drinking fountains don't seem to be common elsewhere, to the point that there are several people in this thread questioning what they even are. I would consider them basic infrastructure for any civilized society.