Water fountains are everywhere. And for good reason: they can be found both outdoors and indoors.
In businesses, restaurants, hotels, public health facilities, schools, parks, streets... More user-friendly and easier to install than water taps, and more environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing than plastic water bottles, water fountains are the ideal hydration solution.
But then, which water fountain should you buy or rent?
Discover all the different types of water fountains !
The mains-connected water fountain
Connected to a water supply, mains-fed water coolers are popular with restaurant and hotel owners as well as businesses. Once installed, they require no maintenance!
Only basic cleaning is necessary to ensure that the water dispenser remains clean and in good working order.
The water flowing from the fountain is filtered through a filtration system built into the machine, which removes chlorine, limescale, and other fine particles. The fountain offers variousstill water options: cold water, room temperature water, hot water, and sparkling water.
The mains-connected water cooler is the ideal zero-waste solution for businesses, coworking spaces, meeting rooms, hotels, and restaurants.
If you are looking for a water cooler for your business, hotel or restaurant, you've come to the right place!
In addition, say no to single-use cups. Choose a water bottle, mug, glass bottle, or carafe to fill your container with high-quality water from water dispensers.
The water cooler
Just like a fountain connected to the water supply, the bottled water fountain is quick and easy to install with the help of a professional, allowing you to avoid bottled water.
Equipped with a 12-liter to 19-liter plastic water bottle that needs to be changed as soon as it is empty or every two weeks for hygiene reasons, the bottle-fed water cooler has the advantage of being able to be installed anywhere.
Bottled water coolers do not need to be connected to the mains water supply. All that is required for them to operate is an electrical connection.
However, they do have certain limitations:
This is not the most environmentally friendly solution, as the bottles are made of plastic. What's more, to reach their destination, bottles travel around 800 km between the source and the point of consumption. That's enough to send your carbon footprint skyrocketing!
The bottles need to be stored so that you don't run out of water. You must therefore ensure that you have enough space for proper storage.
One person must be responsible for ensuring that the water cooler is working properly, changing and ordering the bottles.
The public drinking fountain
In France, public drinking fountains.
Available to everyone, water is provided free of charge and in unlimited quantities. These water fountains can be found in parks and public gardens, as well as on the streets. In Paris, there are no fewer than 1,200 fountains located throughout the capital.
Where can I find them?
Convenient for walkers and athletes looking for water, or even for homeless people, drinking fountains mean you don't have to go to the nearest store to buy a single-use plastic bottle of water.
All you need is a water bottle and to find the nearest drinking fountain.
Finding water points couldn't be easier: just take a look at an interactive map of France listing the various public drinking water points!
Promoting access to drinking water for all is a priority for the City of Paris.
However, in winter, public fountains are traditionally closed when temperatures drop below 0°C. Eau de Paris has decided to keep around fifteen standpipes open during the winter, which are listed in the Solidarité à Paris guide.
Fountains of different styles and eras!
And public fountains are far from being all the same! With different eras and styles, France has a little-known and unique heritage. In Paris, there are different types of drinking fountains, including:
- Wallace fountains: undoubtedly the most famous in Paris. Made of cast iron, they feature four caryatids symbolizing kindness, simplicity, charity, and sobriety. They are named in honor of Richard Wallace, a British philanthropist who financed their construction.
- The Albian fountains: the Paris geological basin contains a vast underground water table known as the Albian. Today, three artesian wells are equipped with drinking fountains in Paris.
- The Millennium Fountains: to celebrate the year 2000, the Paris City Council launched a competition for ideas for a new design for a drinking fountain. Made of cast steel, these Millennium Fountains represent, depending on the angle from which they are viewed, two female profiles back to back, alluding to the caryatids of the Wallace Fountains.
- Arceau fountains: the fountain, made of aluminum and stainless steel, was created to enhance the value of clear water. The water jet is distributed through a tube located in the ring. They allow you to drink in a comfortable position.
The atmospheric fountain
An atmospheric fountain collects moisture from the air and turns it into water.
To turn air into water, the air is sucked in, dusted, then dehumidified and passed through various filters that remove chlorine and impurities from the water.
The fountain plugs directly into an electrical outlet, just like a bottled water fountain.
The touchless water fountain
Unlike a traditional water fountain, the touchless water fountain allows you to dispense water by activating a pedal with your foot. Practical and in tune with the times!
The water fountain for our pets
Yes, there are even water fountains for our little companions!
When cats and dogs eat only dry food, which contains only 10% water, their water consumption tends to be lower than their actual needs. A bowl of water can be likened to a puddle of stagnant water by pets, who will be less tempted to drink. The vast majority of cats and dogs prefer a source of moving water, which they find more appealing. There are plenty of good reasons to get a water fountain for your cat or dog!
The garden fountain
Garden fountains consist of an electric water pump that circulates water in a closed circuit. The water flows from the fountain into the fountain basin.
Mainly seen as decorative elements in private gardens, outdoor garden fountains are useful for connecting a garden hose or for cooling off in the summer.
Outdoor garden fountains come in various sizes, designs, and materials, including stone, resin, cast iron, stainless steel, and aluminum.
Bulk water fountain
Even when shopping, it is possible to opt for a zero-waste solution if you want to buyfiltered water! Some organic stores and grocery stores have water fountains in their aisles, next to glass bottles ready to be filled.
In short, there are water fountains for every type of use: for quenching your thirst indoors or outdoors, for decorating your garden, for keeping your pets happy, and more.
Now that you know all there is to know about water fountains, discover all the solutions for staying hydrated!
Drinking water has never been so enjoyable.
Text: Marie Veyrenc Photo credits: Emmanuel Delaloy, Clara Patural, and Nestor Factory
