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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 bo
by freditup 11y ago
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.
- jobu 11y agoWhen 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.
- toomuchtodo 11y agoConstruct outdoor drinking fountains out of materials that naturally resist bacteria.
- knodi123 11y agoAnd if that doesn't work, what about just adding antibiotics to the water supply? It works for cows....
- colanderman 11y agoNot sure why you were downvoted. This is both a good idea and is actually done: brass, which is commonly used for outdoor water fixtures, is naturally antimicrobial (including E. coli) due to its copper content: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial_properties_of_copper#Efficacy_on_brass.2C_bronze.2C_copper-nickel_alloys https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial_properties_of_co...
- beambot 11y agoReminds 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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujpnXoMeXmY Hilarious.
- currysausage 11y agoHilarious indeed. The most vertigo-inducing cinematography that I have seen in a while though.
- hrehhf 11y agoWhat they did is gross and immature and sure there's the ick factor, but the water flows one-way out of the fountain and you don't have to touch it to drink.
- MBlume 11y agoBack 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?
- guelo 11y agoThere was a lead in the water pipes scare in Wasington DC when I lived there 10 years ago. Don't know what happened since.
- kw71 11y agoThey give advice that if you live in a house with lead pipes to run the water for a few minutes before using it if the pipes have been still for a while. http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/lead/lead1.cfm http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/lead/lead1.cfm
- deathhand 11y agoThe new fear is endocrine disruptors in municipal water. http://www.hhs.gov/asl/testify/2010/02/t20100225a.html http://www.hhs.gov/asl/testify/2010/02/t20100225a.html
- DiabloD3 11y agoYes, but doesn't the plastic in the disposable bottles also contain the same risk, among other issues?
- deathhand 11y agoEnvironmental concerns aside, Plastic only leaches when exposed to direct sunlight/heat: http://web.archive.org/web/20050830052647/http://www.jhsph.edu/PublicHealthNews/articles/Halden_dioxins.html http://web.archive.org/web/20050830052647/http://www.jhsph.e...