Are Office Water Fountains Safe to Drink From?

Office water fountains are a convenient and quick way to stay hydrated, but how safe are they? This article explores the safety of drinking water fountains in the workplace, addressing common concerns and best practices.

Understanding Office Water Fountains

Office water fountains are one of several workplace dispenser options and come in a few different forms, with some being identical to public water fountains and others specifically for filling bottles.

Mains-fed water fountains are typically less maintenance intensive than bottled water coolers and are very intuitive for workplaces with high foot traffic, but how do they stack up to more innovative water dispensers like Billi’s instant filtered systems?

Safety Standards of Drinking Fountains

In the UK, the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) regularly monitors water for safety and quality to make sure it’s safe to drink. This means that for most places the water going into the fountain will be safe, though the cleanliness of the fountain itself is somewhat less certain.

A 2020 study of water fountains at schools in North Yorkshire found that 47 fountains in 17 schools were unhygienic and had high bacterial colony counts. While some of these may have been installed in improper environments this does highlight the potential risk of contamination for water fountains. Thankfully, there’s an alternative that’s just as easy to use, safer, and less wasteful.

Water Dispensers vs Water Fountains

While water fountains aren’t inherently unsafe, their design is more prone to unsafe and wasteful use, such as drinkers’ mouths potentially coming into contact with the bubbler head or large amounts of water literally going down the drain.

Conversely, Billi’s innovative water dispensers can provide instant access to filtered ambient, chilled, boiling, and even sparkling water straight from the tap. This intuitive and safe design means there’s less chance of user error and waste, our units are even more sustainable with energy-saving features like heat exchange technology and standby modes.

Are Water Dispensers Safe?

We take water hygiene seriously, which is why our dispensers come complete with advanced multi-stage filtration to ensure your tap water is as clean and tasty as possible. Our filters use BWT’s unique Fibron X® technology to remove sediment, chlorine, funny tastes and odours, and more serious contaminants like parasitic cysts or lead with our 0.2 Micron Filters.

These systems are also available in a range of stylish finishes that are all far more space-efficient than stand-alone water fountains, fitting neatly under your sink without the need for ventilation cutouts.

One often overlooked part of water safety is the maintenance of your dispenser. Regardless of which option you go for, regular upkeep is an essential part of keeping your drinking water free of nasties. Thankfully, Billi’s UK-wide network of trained service technicians is readily available to provide an expert service ad hoc or under one of our convenient service plans.

Safer Drinking Water with Billi

While a regularly maintained water fountain in the UK will likely be safe, our water systems provide peace of mind and a consistently great taste. Find the right system for your workplace with our handy configurator or view our range to purchase or rent and taste the difference yourself.