Drinking Fountain Safety

A lack of drinking fountain cleanliness is a concern because it can lead to disease, including influenza and bacterial infections. Because of this threat, efforts should be made to keep drinking fountains clean, thus reducing the risk of infection.

Comparison

• As reported by ABC News, an experiment conducted by a 13-year-old boy in 2007 revealed unsettling information regarding the cleanliness of public drinking fountains. In the experiment, bacterial levels in four drinking fountains and one toilet of a public school in Oregon were measured. Results showed that the toilet water contained less bacteria than any of the drinking fountains.

Prevention

• According to the Sandusky County Health Department in Ohio, commonly-touched surfaces---including drinking fountains, phones and door knobs---should be taken into consideration as a part of any infection control program. These surfaces and others should be cleaned on a regular basis.

Cleaning

• According to Iowa State University's custodial training methods, drinking fountains should be cleaned on a daily basis to help prevent the spread of infection and lime buildup. The university instructs its custodians to use disinfectant cleaner on the fountain's bowl, mouthpiece and protective guard and to follow up by rinsing each part with water.