Drinking fountains in Ulm, Germany: How the BACH project evolved from a planning concept into a new public water supply

With the BACH drinking water fountain from myBach, the city of Ulm has implemented a concrete project for public water supply. Located at Ulm’s Bahnhofplatz, this example demonstrates how municipalities can realize an accessible drinking water fountain—from the initial site selection and planning to product choice, installation, hygiene, and ongoing operation.

Publicly accessible drinking water is becoming increasingly important for cities and municipalities. Since January 12, 2023, the Federal Water Act has explicitly established that public water supply is a fundamental service of general interest. This includes providing tap water in public spaces through indoor and outdoor facilities, provided it is technically feasible and proportionate, taking into account local needs and conditions. (Source: Gesetze im Internet)

With its new drinking water fountain at Bahnhofplatz, the city of Ulm demonstrates how this mandate can create tangible added value for public spaces.

A drinking water fountain for Ulm’s Bahnhofplatz

The project began with a specific need: to install a public drinking water fountain at the high-traffic Bahnhofplatz in Ulm.

The choice fell on the accessible BACH drinking water fountain from myBach, supplied by Aquadona. This model is designed for public use and combines a robust construction with a design that integrates seamlessly into various urban environments.

The result is clearly visible in the project photo: the fountain is located directly within the public square, blending into the existing urban landscape alongside seating areas and pedestrian walkways.

This is precisely the key strength of public drinking fountains: drinking water is not relegated to a separate location but is made available exactly where people are already moving.

From idea to implementation: Planning the location first

A drinking water fountain project doesn't start with ordering the unit, but with evaluating the site.

The Ulm project is a prime example of this. The intended location is situated above an underground parking garage, meaning the usual installation depth was not available.

Instead of abandoning the site, the technical design was adapted to the structural conditions. The summer version of the BACH was selected for Ulm. With a reduced installation depth of approximately 75 centimeters, a solution suitable for the existing site was successfully planned.

This highlights a crucial point for municipal drinking fountain projects:

The site does not necessarily have to be adapted to the fountain; rather, it should be determined early on which model fits the existing location.

Effective preliminary planning therefore includes, in particular:

• available installation depth and ground conditions,
• Location of the drinking water connection and drainage,
• existing underground pipes and structures,
• desired seasonal or year-round operation,
• accessibility and barrier-free design,
• integration into pathways and public spaces,
• requirements for design and cityscape.

The sooner these points are clarified, the more effectively the quote, civil engineering, and installation can be prepared.

Technical documentation ensures planning security

Municipal projects often involve multiple stakeholders working together: urban planning, civil engineering, public works departments, water suppliers, installation companies, and other relevant agencies.

This is why installation documents, dimensions, and connection information play such an important role.

In Ulm, the necessary installation depth was also carefully checked before ordering. Once the technical requirements were clarified, the city was able to confirm that the seasonal model was suitable for the intended location.

Only then were the execution, design, and order finalized.

This approach reduces the need for coordination and allows the trades involved to prepare for installation before the drinking fountain even arrives.

Design: Drinking water infrastructure should complement the cityscape

A public drinking fountain is more than just technical infrastructure. It becomes a permanent feature of a square and should therefore also fit in with its surroundings in terms of design.

For the station square, the city of Ulm chose the BACH model in the DB 703 color finish.

This allowed the drinking fountain to be harmonized with the design of the public space. The stainless steel and metal appearance of the fountain, its dark exterior surfaces, and the clearly visible "drinking water" labeling ensure that its function remains immediately recognizable.

This combination of function and design is particularly important for city centers, squares, parks, and prominent public areas: a drinking fountain should be visible without looking like an out-of-place piece of technical equipment.

From price inquiry to order

Once the location and technical feasibility were clarified, Aquadona was able to update the quote according to the desired configuration.

The city of Ulm ultimately chose:

Model: BACH
Application: public outdoor area
Location: Ulm station square
Version: seasonal/summer version
Color: DB 703
Special feature: reduced installation depth due to the underground parking garage below
Concept: accessible drinking water fountain

Following the order in early May 2026, the drinking fountain was delivered in June. It was initially delivered to the municipal maintenance depot, from where the subsequent site logistics and installation could be organized.

This is also a practical approach for municipal projects: delivery, interim storage, and civil engineering work do not necessarily have to take place on the same day.

Installation and integration into the public space

Once the preparatory work was completed, the BACH was installed at the designated location.

The project photo shows the result: the drinking water fountain is freely accessible in the square and is immediately reachable from the adjacent seating areas.

This positioning makes public drinking water a natural part of municipal infrastructure.

This offers several advantages: passersby can refill their water bottles, visitors have easy access to tap water, and on warm days, it provides an additional source of hydration in public spaces.

It also makes using refillable bottles more attractive. A network of well-placed drinking fountains can help reduce the need for single-use plastic bottles purchased on the go.

Hygiene is part of the planning process

For a public drinking fountain, the project does not end with installation.

A professional operating concept also includes flushing, cleaning, maintenance, and hygiene monitoring. Especially for facilities used daily by many different people, a clearly defined hygiene process ensures safety and accountability.

In the Ulm project, cleaning, flushing, and sampling were also considered as part of the operation.

A simple principle applies: the drinking fountain is not just technically installed, but also operated under hygienic supervision.

Regular visual inspections, cleaning as needed, sufficient water turnover, and defined sampling and maintenance procedures help ensure long-term drinking water quality.

Depending on the facility and local jurisdiction, operators should also clarify early on which consultations, tests, or notifications are required by the local health department.

This ensures that hygiene is not an afterthought, but an integral part of the operating concept.

A municipal drinking fountain project can be clearly structured

The Ulm example shows that a public drinking fountain does not have to be a complicated, large-scale project. The key is a logical sequence:

Identify need → select location → check structural requirements → determine suitable design → define layout → obtain quotes → prepare civil engineering work → install drinking fountain → flush and test for hygiene → organize operation and maintenance.

Early coordination between product selection and site planning is particularly important.

The underground parking garage beneath Ulm's station square is a prime example of why standard solutions cannot be implemented identically at every location. By selecting a suitable BACH model, the available space could still be utilized for public drinking water supply.

Drinking fountains are becoming part of modern municipal public services

With Section 50 of the Federal Water Act, the legislature has explicitly included the provision of drinking water in public places within the context of public water supply and essential services. Technical feasibility, demand, and local conditions are explicitly taken into account.

For municipalities, this means: when developing and modernizing high-traffic public spaces, it is worth considering drinking water supply from the very beginning.

Station squares, market squares, pedestrian zones, parks, playgrounds, sports facilities, and central gathering areas are particularly well-suited for this.

The new BACH in Ulm demonstrates how this translates into concrete infrastructure: robust, publicly accessible, barrier-free, and seamlessly integrated into the existing urban space.

Aquadona supports municipalities from planning through to operation

Aquadona assists cities, municipalities, water suppliers, and other public clients with the selection and planning of plumbed-in drinking water fountains for public spaces.

With the BACH model from myBach, various site requirements can be taken into account during the design phase—from installation conditions and operating modes to the desired surface finish.

This provides planners with a custom drinking fountain solution that can be tailored to its future location.

Are you also planning a public drinking water fountain?
Aquadona provides support with product selection, site planning, technical questions, implementation, and preparation for ongoing operation.