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Water Fountain Safety

Water Fountain Safety

Do you think that Water Fountains are safe to drink from? Is there any chance of you, a human, contracting germs from the previous user?

Safety Fountain Water

I guess the only place you could pick up germs is from the faucet handle, or button as generally your lips don't touch the metal outlet, or have I been doing it wrong? I feel water fountains are perfectly safe.

Water Fountain Safety Health & Special Psychology

Heh, haven't seen them for ages. The last time I used one was a fountain in my school and I didn't drink often from it just because the water was always too cold.
But I agree, you have to be extremely lucky to catch a germ from it.

Safety Fountain Water

You know I have seen children and even some adults place their mouths, noses and even hands on the guard and where the water comes out. The way I equate it: germs go on spout, germs are unaffected by cold or metal and live on, jet of water passes from spout (with germs) into your mouth... you swallow, am I wrong?

Safety Fountain Water

Well, it depends on the fragility of the disease. For example, HIV cannot survive outside the body for long, which is why you can't get it from a toilet seat (barring some very extreme circumstances). However, some types of colds and flu could be passed by drinking fountain. When I do use a fountain, I subscribe to the dilution concept - I let it run for a few seconds, figuring that the bulk of the germs that do come with the water will be flushed into the drain, and only a few germs are not likely to make me actually sick.

Water Fountain Safety

I rarely use public water fountains, but I am sure there are a multitude of germs present there. However, it's no different than me opening a door at a public restroom or restaurant for that matter, or sitting at a park bench. I figure germs are a way of helping the body create an immune system. The problem with society today is that everyone is so obsessed with killing germs that they don't realize they are not allowing their own bodies to develop an immune system naturally. I am not saying we should live without hygienic practices, but let's try not to worry about drinking out of a water fountain so much.

Water Fountain Safety

Malexander, although your post produces something worth debating, I very much doubt it is as simple as that. The problem with using a 'tool' for public consumption is two things:

1. You are making use of this inside your body
2. People who may be very ill - can pass very contagious diseases on to you via this method

I know people that refuse to drink from water fountains. They actually walk around with their own water. I am not one of these, but I have seen it.