Drinking fountains

sonoran_Tj · 09-05-2010, 05:23 PM

If anyone knows a lot about drinking fountains, please chime in. Do drinking fountains have filters?

My roomate and I have been arguing about this for a few weeks now. Several times a day, my roomate leaves our room and walks down the hall to the drinking fountain to fill his water bottle; even though we have a sink in our room. He claims the water coming out of the fountain if filtered and therefore safer than sink water. I figure that the water comes from the same pipes, so if there isn't a filter then there isn't an advantage to filling from the fountain. So, is there a filter on drinking fountains?

AlTheKillerr · 09-05-2010, 05:31 PM

I dont know but the one that was in my Exs dorm at UT was mighty tasty

1997_Sport · 09-05-2010, 05:34 PM

Buy one and put some Fruit Punch in it!

I would think they are more filtered then a sink, but not sure...I guess it depends on the type also.

**Gobi_Gred** · 09-05-2010, 05:39 PM

Drinking fountains dont usually have filters. I have installed several different models, none with filters. They do have an electric chiller in them that cools the water down. The water coming out of them isn't any "safer" it probably tastes better since it is cool. If any do have a filter it is most likely just a screen to trap bigger particulates in the water. So no, drinking fountains do not have filters. Especially the ones in public buildings that are designed to be as maintenence free as possible.

Ninja Edit:If you want you can take a 5/16 nutdriver and take the screws at the bottom out to get the cover off.

kiffer · 09-05-2010, 05:43 PM

I generally try to avoid those all together... Think about how many people's mouths have been on/really close to them.

**alexrule123** · 09-05-2010, 05:45 PM

I know at my work they installed filters on the water fountains since they did not come with them.

elephantrider · 09-05-2010, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiffer

I generally try to avoid those all together... Think about how many people's mouths have been on/really close to them.

do you avoid all public restrooms ? imagine how many
sets of genetalia has occupied yours when urinating.

ArrizX · 09-05-2010, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elephantrider

do you avoid all public restrooms ? imagine how many
sets of genetalia has occupied yours when urinating.

I generally try to avoid taking a sit down on public toilets

**Smeg** · 09-05-2010, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexrule123

I know at my work they installed filters on the water fountains since they did not come with them.

Most of the ones on center have them too. Some still taste better than others.

**jeepdavetj** · 09-05-2010, 07:04 PM

Water is water.

NonRubicon · 09-05-2010, 07:17 PM

Drinking fountains are connected to municipal water sources which are supposed to meet health standards. The water is safe to drink, but not always tasty.

spife7980 · 09-05-2010, 07:20 PM

never seen a filter "in" a fountain but i have seen a few that are added in after the fact but they are always hard piped in on the outside of the fountain so they are painfully obvious.

**thantos858** · 09-05-2010, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NonRubicon

Drinking fountains are connected to municipal water sources which are supposed to meet health standards. The water is safe to drink, but not always tasty.

No one in my wife's family believes me on this and the fact that the EPA controls those regulations while bottle water is done by the FDA with far more relaxed rules.

As for the fountain find a maintenance guy for the property and ask them or take the panel off like suggested already. They could also be using a separate line for the fountains in the building connected to a large filter system.

OneLoud · 09-05-2010, 07:53 PM

What school do you go to? Rather, how many water fountains are on your campus? Do you really think your school would spend the money to have filters, that need to be cleaned or replaced, on there drinking fountains? Especially when they would be filtering water that already meats standards to be safe to drink. And as far as seperate water lines for the fountains from any other water source on the floor...I doubt it. I think your roommate is living with his head in the clouds.

sonoran_Tj · 09-05-2010, 09:09 PM

This is in the Jester dorm at UT. I agree with most of yall, there is probably not a filter on it. I do think its funny that my roomate believes this, and refuses to drink sink water.