Water is a crucial resource we need in order to nourish our bodies as we go about our days. When we are out and about, it’s essential to hydrate our bodies, and drinking fountains are there for that exact purpose. Public drinking fountains allow us to drink water or refill our water bottles in a park or the gym; they’re convenient and free!
Though they are convenient and even essential, the issue of sanitation is brought up frequently when discussing drinking fountains. Especially during these unprecedented times, we might worry about using drinking fountains. Whether you are looking to stay safe during your gym sessions or are in need of making your own drinking fountain safer in your workplace, we have the answers to “are drinking fountains safe?”
Let’s dive further and find out how drinking fountains work, how to keep them running well, and how to best sanitize your drinking fountain.
How do water fountains work?
A drinking fountain is based on a simple operative system for easy functionality and accessibility. Usually, water is kept in the main reservoir within the fountain, which then is pumped up once the fountain’s valve is pressed on. Within the reservoir, there is a pump that enables this functionality, as the pump forces water upwards to where drinking water is supplied. Once the valve is released, the pressure from the pump forces water back into the reservoir until the valve is pressed again. The drinking fountains themselves can be operated either electronically or be solar-powered.
Though that is the main gist of how water fountains work, there are variations in sizes and advancements between drinking fountains. For instance, large outdoor fountains may require larger water supplies, hence will utilize specific a higher number of reservoirs and pumps. Tubes can be installed to get water to flow in various directions, and some fountains even allow adjustment of flow rates. The fountain can be customized to your exact needs.
Drinking fountains for public use have been used around the world for years. The modern drinking fountain, or drinking fountain as we know it, was first invented in the early 1900s. Though, research shows signs of public drinking fountains being part of the civilization even before that date.
How to Keep Your Fountain Running Well
Keeping a well-running fountain is crucial not only for an easy water flow mechanism but for ensuring the sanitation of drinking water. If the drinking fountain is not maintained, limescale, mineral build-up, contaminants, and bad taste can all be a problem. We have five key tips for fountain maintenance you should keep in mind to keep your water fountain running smoothly.
Keep It Clean!
This might sound relatively straightforward but make sure to have your drinking fountain fully clean–this means the outside and the inside of the fountain. Though you might not need to deep-clean it often, it is recommended to drain the reservoir and do a full clean with a stiff brush every couple of months. It’s easy; all you need to do is first drain the reservoir, then clean the fountain’s surface with a cloth, and clean out the pumps and tubes with a brush. For better sanitation, you can add chemical cleansers but ensure that all of the chemicals are washed off.
Remove the Debris
Debris might be a problem if your drinking fountain is placed outside; we recommend cleaning the debris weekly. It doesn’t have to be the same type of deep-clean but just ensuring all the debris on the basin or the valve is gone. If you have the fountain outside, you can also utilize fountain covers to protect it from harsh weather and avoid excess debris in cases of storms.
Check the Pump
We might often forget, but the pump is one of the essential parts of the drinking fountain, which is why it’s crucial to keep an eye and ear out for it. If you hear strange noises or see a leak, you have to be on top of your maintenance game and fix it as soon as possible. A damaged pump can cause issues with how smoothly the drinking fountain runs, so make sure to check it out frequently.
Look Out for Algae
Algae is utterly disgusting, but it might be inevitable if you are not on top of your game. We recommend using water treatment drops for algae weekly. During high temperatures, increased algae growth is unavoidable, in this case, you can incorporate algaecide every three weeks.
Check Your Water
Ensure you have the correct levels of water in the reservoir. Obviously, a drinking fountain operates on water, but if the reservoir has too low levels of water, it can damage the fountain’s components. This is especially the case during the hotter months when water evaporates faster. Another thing to keep in mind is that it is better to have distilled or treated water for drinking fountains. Treated water will not only be better to drink but also prevent mineral build-up, corrosion, and staining.
Let’s read further on how you can keep your water fountain safe and sanitary at all times.
Keeping Your Water Fountain Sanitized
Sanitation and health hazard have become quite a topic of conversation in regards to drinking fountains. Many avoid using drinking fountains for the sake of contamination; this has been detrimental to the drinking fountain market. Though it is in less use, keeping drinking fountains for public use is still essential for many. Even if you are looking to have a drinking fountain at home, we still encourage following these steps. We have compiled recommendations for keeping extra safe and sanitary when drinking from fountains during these unprecedented times.
Recommendations while using:
- Let the water run for a few moments before drinking
- Do not touch your mouth to the surface
- Preferable to fill up a water bottle rather than drinking straight from the tap
- Wash your heads after drinking from the fountain
You can keep yourself extra safe, but if you own a water fountain, we highly encourage you to utilize water filters. Using drinking fountain filters will help in killing possible contaminants, removing limescale, and even improving taste.
The Vortex Water Revitalizer – Best for your Water Fountains
One of the best water filters for drinking fountains is The Vortex Water Revitalizer™! It is a vortex water treatment that implements the highly innovative and water-intuitive treatment to bring back water’s natural capabilities. These phenomenal abilities occur naturally in structured water, which is found in the clearest waters in mountain springs and glacial waters.
Structured water occurs when water retains its hexagonal micro-clustered molecular shape. This form is lost due to all the pressure, treatment systems, and chemical additives that water goes through. Constant pumping and pressurizing lead to loss of the structure and all of the water’s benefits. The Vortex Water Revitalizer™ understands the value of water’s most natural state and tries to revitalize it by imitating the very particular water movement. This is done by employing a double spiral flow form and putting water through a vortexing motion, which brings vortex water back all its benefits.
Here are some of the most phenomenal benefits vortex water can bring to your drinking fountain.
Remove All Bacteria & Viruses
Vortex water has a unique ability to self-clean continuously, keeping the water in the most optimal condition at all times. All bacteria, viruses, and pathogens are eliminated unequivocally. Due to its constant self-cleaning, water is more robust against contaminants, keeping you safe at all times.
Improved Hydration
The unique shape molecular shape allows water to seep deeper into cells and hydrate much faster and for longer periods of time. Cells receive higher levels of hydration and are able to function in their peak performance. Increased metabolism, healthier skin, and improved bodily functions are some of the benefits of using vortex water. The best part! Increased hydration doesn’t come at the cost of drinking excess levels of water; you can stay hydrated without feeling uncomfortable.
Neutral pH Levels
An imbalance of pH levels should always be considered and checked, as excess alkaline or acidic pH levels can cause problems. If the water you drink has an imbalance of pH levels, you could face nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting. Not to mention how it affects the water fountain itself; corrosion, mineral build-up, and limescale are more susceptible with skewed pH Levels. On the other hand, Vortex water has been shown to constantly bring water to its optimal pH levels of between 6.8 and 7.2.
Increase in Dissolved Oxygen Levels
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) is vital to the survival of aquatic biota and the improvement of the environment. Research has shown that vortex water has increased levels of dissolved water. This is essential when thinking of wastewater and how it affects aquatic life.
Decreased Maintenance
Drinking fountains are susceptible to limescale, mineral deposits, and more maintenance headaches. Much of these are caused by hard water, with higher levels of chlorine, sulfur, and chlorimides within the water. Vortex water ensures no excess chemicals are in the water, thus eliminating staining, corrosion, and mineral build-up at the drinking fountain.
The Vortex Water Revitalizer™ has even more benefits to offer you and your drinking fountain! The installation is super easy and straightforward, with no maintenance required. Not just that, all customers have a 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 10-Year Limited Warranty with each vortex water treatment purchase.
Discover the ideal vortex water treatment for your drinking fountain at The Vortex Water Revitalizer™!