Choosing Drinking Fountains & Bottle Fillers
Installing drinking fountains or bottle filling stations in your operation is an excellent way to keep staff and guests hydrated with minimal expense and effort. As soft drink sales continue to decline and water consumption increases, providing drinking water stations in a private building or public facility will be greatly appreciated by consumers both immediately and long term. Water fountains also lessen the environmental and financial impact of single-use plastics and eliminate the hassle and expense of keeping bottled water stocked in your place of business.
Multiple factors must be considered when choosing a water fountain, many of which depend on the size of your operation and the water dispensing method you wish to provide. The main options are water fountains which users drink directly from, and water bottle fillers, which are intended for refilling reusable water bottles. Some units combine the two styles, and these options all come in both indoor and outdoor designs.
Drinking Water Fountains
Drinking water fountains are a common sight in school hallways, office buildings, and medical facilities. These fountains are a convenient, waste-free way to ensure hydration in high-volume common areas and require little upkeep or maintenance. Unlike water cooler stations, drinking water fountains do not require users to change out water jugs and cups or handle the waste they create after use. There are a few different variations among drinking water fountains.
- Deciding whether to install an indoor or outdoor water fountain is the first step. Indoor fountains tend to be less expensive, while outdoor fountains are made from stronger materials, such as stainless steel or even stone in some cases, designed to withstand the elements. Some models are designed for use in either setting.
- Drinking water fountains come in both filtered and unfiltered versions. Filters provide better taste and reduce water contaminants, but are an additional maintenance cost when replacement is needed. Unfiltered water fountains require less maintenance, but distribute the same water that comes out of a tap, so this option is dependent on the quality and taste of your local tap water.
- Indoor water fountains are available in floor-standing, in-wall, and on-wall units. Floor-standing units stand independent from the wall, whereas in-wall and on-wall units rely on the wall for support. In-wall units hide the machinery of the drinking fountain inside the wall for a cleaner look, while on-wall units are mounted onto the wall and allow for easier maintenance.
- Indoor water fountains come with either one or two drinking stations, often with one station sitting slightly lower to accommodate different heights, which is important when it comes to ADA compliance.
- Some come with one drinking station and one bottle filling station for added versatility.
- Drinking water fountains are either refrigerated or non-refrigerated, depending on how cool you wish the drinking water to be. Refrigerated units typically do not require any additional maintenance, but non-refrigerated units may be necessary without a nearby power source.
- Finally, you must choose the operation mechanism of the drinking fountain; units come in foot pedal, hands-free sensor, lever, push-bar, and push-button styles.
Water Bottle Fillers
Whether it's to reduce their own environmental footprint or partake in social media-driven trends, an increasing number of people carry their own reusable water bottles wherever they go. This has given rise to water bottle fillers – stations that provide users with a quick and sanitary method of filling their own bottles with fresh water. Featuring contact-free sensors, built-in filters, and a water dispensing rate three times faster than drinking water fountains, water bottle filling stations are a popular choice for schools, gyms, offices, and any other location where users are likely to have their own bottles. Water bottle fillers are more accessible thanks to their hands-free sensors, which eliminate the need to uncomfortably bend over to get water.
Like water fountains, water bottle fillers are available in indoor and outdoor models as well as refrigerated and unrefrigerated versions. Many outdoor models have both a water fountain and bottle filler in one unit, and some even have an additional ground-level water dispenser for pets. Outdoor models are generally floor mounted, while indoor ones are wall mounted. Though most models are filtered, they are available without filters as well. Many have displays that indicate filter life as well as how many plastic bottles have been saved from waste by using the filling station. Some filter options can purify up to 3,000 gallons of water, leading to less-frequent changes and reduced maintenance costs.
Bottle Filler Water Fountains
Combining the on-the-spot refreshment of a drinking water fountain with the on-the-go convenience of a water bottle filler, bottle filler water fountains offer both hydration systems in one convenient station. As with individual water fountains and bottle fillers, selecting a bottle filler water fountain requires several decisions. Units come in indoor and outdoor models, with a few models that can function in either setting. You must choose whether you want a single-level unit with one drinking fountain and one bottle filler or a unit that provides multiple fountains in addition to the bottle filler. Outdoor models often come with an optional ground-level spigot for pets.
Outdoor Drinking Fountains
Designed to withstand the elements, outdoor drinking fountains bring the convenience of drinking water outdoors while reducing the waste associated with plastic bottles. These are an excellent option for outdoor gathering spaces, such as parks, outdoor sports complexes, and hiking trails, or even for exterior recreational areas in office buildings, schools, and hospitals. Outdoor drinking fountains are made of much more durable materials than their indoor counterparts, such as powder-coated steel, stone aggregate, stainless steel, or even concrete, which resists both outdoor elements and vandalism.
Like indoor models, those designed for outdoor use are available in wall-mounted or freestanding units, with that choice depending on the installation area and utility hookups present. Refrigerated and nonrefrigerated models are available in varying combinations of drinking fountain and bottle filler units. Units with pet bowls are very popular for installation in public parks and along walking trails. Winterized fountains designed to resist freezing in temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit can be purchased for areas that see cold weather, and ADA-compliant units are available to comply with local ADA laws.
