Buying drinking water fountains: Why municipalities should act now and plan for operational safety

Anyone looking to buy a drinking water fountain today is not just choosing a new piece of equipment for a marketplace, park, or schoolyard. It is about modern public services, municipal heat protection, low-threshold access to drinking water, and long-term, reliable infrastructure.

The European Drinking Water Directive requires member states to improve or maintain access to drinking water for everyone. Where technically feasible, this should also include indoor and outdoor facilities in public spaces. Concrete implementation is carried out through the respective national regulations.

Germany has explicitly incorporated this concept into Section 50 of the Federal Water Act: Public water supply as a task of general interest also includes providing drinking water from the supply network in public places via indoor and outdoor facilities—provided this is technically feasible, meets demand, and is proportionate, taking local conditions into account. There is no blanket requirement to install a drinking fountain on every street corner. However, there is a clear legal and political framework for cities, municipalities, and water suppliers.

For public contracting authorities, the decisive question is therefore increasingly no longer whether drinking water should be provided in public spaces, but how this can be achieved safely, economically, and with the least possible administrative effort.

Buying a drinking water fountain means buying into the entire operation

A drinking water fountain must function on more than just the day of its inauguration. It must be able to operate reliably after long periods of low usage, during summer heat, in winter, after cleaning, and under the strain of a high-traffic public location. Since the legislation in 2023, several new drinking water fountain manufacturers have entered the market—but without experience or expertise in this critical area. Unfortunately, we hear this time and again from prospective clients who, after a cheap purchase, are now looking for a well-thought-out solution.

The reason: Public drinking water fountains are subject to drinking water regulations and monitoring by the local health department. The responsibility for proper operation, compliance with requirements, and necessary operational measures lies with the respective operator. The BLAGThe German Environment Agency's guidelines also recommend structured self-monitoring and maintaining an operations log.

DVGW leaflet W 274 therefore covers more than just technical design. It encompasses needs assessment, site selection, planning, construction, operation, and self-monitoring of public drinking water fountains. This exact lifecycle perspective should be the foundation of every procurement decision.

A seemingly inexpensive drinking fountain can become costly in the long run if additional expenses arise after purchase for:

• power connections and civil engineering work,
• winter shutdown and recommissioning,
• cleaning and inspection rounds,
• water sampling,
• documentation and record-keeping,
• corrosion or vandalism damage,
• hard-to-find spare parts,
• unscheduled site visits and troubleshooting.

The purchase price is therefore only one part of the actual cost-effectiveness. The total costs and risks over the service life are what truly matter.

Planning drinking water fountains: Eight questions before procurement

Anyone planning a drinking water fountain should clarify the operational framework before selecting a product.

1. Who will use the drinking water fountain?

A drinking fountain in a schoolyard has different requirements than one in a pedestrian zone, on a playground, in front of a town hall, or on a tourist promenade. User frequency, age groups, accessibility, and the ability to refill water bottles influence the correct design.

2. Who will assume operator responsibility?

It should be determined during the planning phase which department will handle cleaning, visual inspections, technical maintenance, sampling, documentation, and communication with the health department. Unclear responsibilities often lead to unnecessary effort later on. (Bach hygiene monitoring simplifies several of these steps.)

3. How are the water supply and drainage handled?

In addition to the drinking water supply line, factors such as water pressure, pipe routing, backflow prevention, drainage, and, if applicable, the connection to the sewage system must be considered. The drainage system must not lead to puddles, slip hazards, or areas that pose hygiene risks.

4. How is stagnation avoided?

Stagnant water is one of the most significant operational risk factors. Automatic flushing cycles and traceable flow data can help operators reduce stagnation times and detect irregularities at an early stage. (Verification of this is easily possible with the Bach hygiene monitoring system.)

5. Should the drinking fountain be operated seasonally or year-round?

Seasonal decommissioning may seem simple at first. However, it creates additional organizational effort for shutdown, restart, coordination, and potentially further testing. A frost-resistant, year-round operation can simplify this process, provided the location and operating concept are suitable.

6. Is barrier-free access possible?

The drinking fountain should be accessible for independent use by children, adults, the elderly, and wheelchair users. This requires considering not only the height of the outlet but also accessibility, maneuvering space, and ease of operation.

7. Will the material withstand the location in the long term?

Road salt, chloride-laden air, intensive cleaning, moisture, frost, and vandalism place high demands on the outer casing. In exposed locations, a design made of highly corrosion-resistant 316 stainless steel can be more cost-effective in the long run than a cheaper standard solution.

8. How are operation and hygiene documented?

An analog drinking fountain provides the operator with almost no information. Troubleshooting only begins in the event of a complaint, an abnormal sample, or a visible defect. In contrast, a digitally monitored system can continuously document temperature, flow rate, consumption, and operating status.

Aquadona: Market knowledge reduces poor decision-making

In 2026, the Aquadona team looks back on 12 years of specialized market and marketing expertise in the field of plumbed-in water dispensers and public drinking fountains.

This experience is of particular value to public sector clients. After all, there are numerous technical, hygienic, organizational, and procurement-related decisions to be made between an initial project idea and a permanently functioning drinking fountain.

Aquadona is familiar with various manufacturers, design principles, materials, operating models, and typical weak points. This allows requirements to be structured early on, unsuitable solutions to be ruled out, and the truly appropriate design to be selected.

Our consulting goes beyond questions of color or design. It includes, among other things:

• Location and user profile,
• Water supply and drainage,
• Hygiene and flushing concept,
• Seasonal or year-round operation,
• Accessibility,
• Corrosion and vandalism protection,
• Specifications and product certifications,
• Hygiene monitoring,
• Grant funding assessment,
• installation and subsequent operation.

This combination of market insight, planning experience, and technical product development makes Aquadona a uniquely comprehensive partner for public drinking water projects.

BACH by myBach: The drinking water fountain for the smart city

The BACH was not developed merely as a water dispensing point. It is designed as a holistic system for cities, municipalities, water suppliers, schools, and other public operators.

The model combines robust construction, hygienic operating functions, accessible use, optional energy self-sufficiency, and digital hygiene monitoring. Aquadona positions the BACH as the first German drinking water fountain with smart-city-ready monitoring.

DVGW compliance and hygienic design

The BACH holds the "DVGW hygiene conformity confirmation." In addition, it features water-bearing components that are suitable for drinking water or are DVGW-certified, an integrated backflow preventer, automatic hygiene flushing, contactless sensor operation, and a design that protects the outlet from external contamination.

The automatic flushing function helps to reduce stagnant water. Contactless operation avoids unnecessary hand contact with control elements. An easily accessible inspection opening also simplifies maintenance and checks.

For operators, this means more than just technical security. Documentation and verifiable design features also facilitate coordination with water suppliers, specialist planners, and health authorities.

Hygiene monitoring: Control instead of guesswork

Hygiene monitoring is the central smart city feature of the BACH. It transmits hygiene- and operation-relevant data to a browser-based user interface. Operators can remotely track, among other things:

• how much water has been consumed,
• which water temperatures were recorded,
• what status the system is reporting,
• whether defined threshold values have been exceeded.

Depending on the configuration, tabular and graphical views, warning notifications, and exportable reports are available. This ensures that usage, temperature trends, and operating states are not only visible in the event of a malfunction, but are continuously traceable.

The monitoring system does not measure bacteria and does not replace mandatory water testing or decisions made by the health department. However, it does provide important operational indicators. An unusually low flow rate, long periods without water movement, or elevated temperatures can be detected and evaluated early on. Furthermore, from 2027, the BACH can be retrofitted with a module that sterilizes your drinking water. This ensures maximum safety for both you as the operator and the users.

This aligns with the concept of risk-based drinking water management: risks should be controlled not only through retrospective final inspections, but through systematic observation, documentation, and appropriate measures. The German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) explicitly emphasizes the importance of operational measurements, clear procedures, and transparent documentation.

This provides a decisive advantage for the operator: they gain security and control without having to personally visit every drinking fountain every day.

Energy-autonomous - independent of sun or power grid

The BACH can optionally be operated in an energy-autonomous manner. In this setup, the required electrical energy is generated by water movement or the existing water pressure.

Unlike a solar solution, this power supply is not dependent on sunlight or the orientation of the site. At the same time, there is no need for an additional external power connection. Depending on the location, this reduces the effort required for civil engineering, planning, and connection.

The most technically and economically suitable version should be decided based on the intended location, user frequency, flushing concept, and local water conservation goals.

Optional year-round operation

The BACH is available as a seasonal model and as a frost-resistant year-round version. This allows the operator to choose between a classic seasonal concept and the permanent provision of drinking water - even in sub-zero temperatures.

Year-round operation can reduce the effort associated with winter shutdowns, recommissioning, scheduling, and additional operational measures. The necessary inspections and approvals must always be coordinated with the responsible health department and local authorities.

316 stainless steel for locations exposed to road salt

The BACH is available in different stainless steel variants. For locations with high chloride or salt exposure, a version made of highly corrosion-resistant 316 stainless steel can be selected.

This is relevant, for example, near roads, train stations, pedestrian zones, coastal locations, or areas with intensive winter maintenance. The robust, vandal-resistant construction is designed for long-term use in public spaces.

Accessible and customizable

The BACH is designed to be accessible and can be used both for drinking directly and for filling personal bottles. Contactless operation, clear user guidance, and the adaptable design facilitate use for different age groups and user demographics.

A drinking water fountain does not have to be an eyesore in the cityscape. The outer shell, color scheme, lettering, city crest, and technical connections can be adapted to the client's requirements. This turns a technical facility into a visible part of the municipal identity.

Public drinking fountain hygiene: Safety is a process

When it comes to public drinking fountain hygiene, it is not enough to rely solely on a single feature or certificate.

Hygienically safe operation is the result of the interplay between:

• materials suitable for drinking water,
• professional installation,
• backflow protection,
• avoidance of unnecessary stagnation,
• regular cleaning,
• visual and functional inspections,
• coordinated water testing,
• clear responsibilities,
• complete documentation.

The BACH hygiene monitoring system adds a digital layer of control to these organizational and technical measures. It makes operating conditions visible and creates a reliable data foundation for maintenance, internal audits, and discussions with the relevant authorities.

This is particularly crucial for operators with multiple locations. Instead of checking every drinking fountain according to a rigid schedule, anomalies can be prioritized and field visits planned more effectively. Digital data does not replace operator obligations, but it makes fulfilling them more structured, transparent, and easier to verify.

Drinking fountain funding: Check financing before starting the project

The funding for drinking fountains should not be checked only after the product has already been selected and ordered.

Funding opportunities depend on the federal state, the applicant, the location, the project goal, and the specific funding program. Drinking water fountains can be considered as standalone measures or as part of larger projects, for example in the areas of:

• municipal heat protection,
• climate adaptation,
• sustainable urban development,
• redesigning public spaces,
• health promotion,
• school and neighborhood development,
• improving access to drinking water.

Since funding conditions and application periods change regularly, an individual assessment is required. Aquadona works with the specialized funding agency DGF for this purpose. They support public clients in finding suitable programs, checking eligibility, preparing applications, and—depending on the scope of the mandate—providing support through to disbursement and proof of use.

An early funding assessment can do more than just reduce the financial burden. It can also influence the project scope, schedule, site selection, technical design, and the required tender documents.

It is not the lowest price that matters, but the lowest total cost

When selecting a drinking water fountain, public clients should consider the total lifecycle costs:

Acquisition + civil engineering + connections + water and energy + cleaning + sampling + maintenance + winter operation + documentation + spare parts + troubleshooting.

This is precisely where the economic benefit of the BACHbecomes apparent. The combination of durable stainless steel, optional year-round operation, self-sufficient energy supply, automatic hygiene flushing, maintenance-friendly design, and digital monitoring can reduce personnel, connection, and administrative costs.

The actual savings always depend on the location and the chosen variant. However, the most important advantage is independent of this: operational risks become visible earlier and decisions are easier to justify.

For mayors, water utility managers, health departments, procurement offices, and building managers, this is crucial. A good drinking water fountain must do more than just function. Its procurement and operation must be technically, economically, and organizationally sound.

Finally: Buy a drinking water fountain now and make the right long-term decision

The expansion of publicly accessible drinking water supplies is being promoted across Europe and is explicitly part of the provision of public services in Germany. Cities, municipalities, water suppliers, and public institutions should therefore not wait for the next heatwave or a last-minute political demand.

Planning ahead allows you to coordinate location, budget, funding opportunities, operating organization, and technical requirements.

Aquadona combines specialized market expertise with the planning of modern drinking water solutions. The BACH from myBach goes beyond the function of a classic drinking fountain: it integrates hygiene, durability, accessibility, energy self-sufficiency, and digital hygiene monitoring into a smart-city-ready, comprehensive solution.

This provides operators with exactly what matters for public infrastructure: Security, control, traceability, and long-term cost-effectiveness.

Frequently asked questions about buying a drinking water fountain

Is every municipality required to install a public drinking water fountain?

There is no blanket obligation to install a drinking water fountain at every location. However, Section 50 of the German Federal Water Act (WHG) explicitly makes the provision of tap water in public places a part of public water supply, provided it is technically feasible, meets demand, and is proportionate. The specific implementation depends on local responsibilities and conditions.

Does hygiene monitoring replace water sampling?

No. Hygiene monitoring records operational indicators such as temperature, consumption, and status. It does not measure microbiological parameters and does not replace mandatory regulatory testing. However, it helps operators detect irregularities earlier and document operational processes in a traceable manner. A module for water sterilization can be retrofitted from 2027 onwards (this requires a power connection).

Can the BACH be operated without a power connection and without a solar module?

Yes, an optional energy-autonomous version is available for this purpose. It generates the required energy from water movement or existing water pressure, making it independent of sunlight.

Is funding available for drinking water fountains?

Depending on the federal state, applicant, location, and project context, funding opportunities may be available. Since programs, deadlines, and requirements change, you should check these before commissioning or starting construction. Upon request, Aquadona can provide access to specialized funding advice from the DGF.