are there still water fountains in public places? free water to drink?

[Syrinx]

I think there's one at the local public library, but I'm not sure. I'm not sure about the malls, because I never go there. There was one or two at the county courthouse, but I haven't been there in over a decade.

Maybe they've been advertising water on TV for ages, and I never noticed.

But I noticed about an hour ago, while watching a Monk rerun on the USA network.

It may seem like a small thing at first glance. But why, oh why, are giant corporations allowed to brand something so basic to human survival as water?

Has this country become so sick, so perverted, so misguided, that you won't even be allowed a sip of water, unless you are able to pay for it?

I'm not against people making profits. But I am against what is basically an infinite corporate markup on a basic human need.

[cali]

1. Yes, there are water fountains.

just about everywhere.

[GoCubsGo]

19. One can usually find them near the restrooms.

[bettyellen]

46. i've noticed a lot less of them at work, airports and stores

our new corporate office has one per floor instead of eight i wandered around an airport last year for 45 minutes, and couldn't find a single one. i had to take handfuls from the sink, LOL, because nothing was open yet where I could buy some.
store bathrooms in NYC no longer have them for the most part, and they did used to be standard. Maybe it;s a city thing or new constuction thing. But I would say it;s true in NYC that they are becoming rarer.

[Liberal_in_LA]

67. They seem to be harder to find in places that sell expensive drinks, amusement parks

, airports and such. But they are there

[lynne]

2. Water fountains are everywhere -

and if you're speaking about the sale of bottled water, the consumer is paying more for the container and the convenience of having it bottled and ready at a moments notice more than for the water itself. The way to end that would be for people to quit buying it but I don't see that occurring any time soon.

BTW, did you know they also sell canned AIR???

[Modern_Matthew]

3. Deer Park is much cleaner than my local tap water. Leave bottled water ALONE. nt

[inademv]

4. odds are

that your deer park water comes directly from the tap at the bottling plant.

[quaker bill]

8. Some companies ultrafilter it

But this is largely for sanitation purposes, as the water will tend to sit on the shelf or in the warehouse for some time. Some have their own wells, but most bottlers use public supply.

[FSogol]

6. You are most likley wrong about that. Deer Park is not held to the same standards as your local

water.

[WinkyDink]

15. Not mine.

[GoCubsGo]

23. Nor, mine.

We have some of the best-tasting tap water I have ever had. It's clean, low in minerals (we're on the sandy Coastal Plain) and the city usually doesn't dump too much of the sanitizers in it. The tap water is one of the few good things about this rathole town. If I ever manage to escape this place the water will likely be one of the few things I'll miss.

[bluestate10]

11. Exactly right. When I buy bottled water in public, I buy it for the convenience.

Plus, public water fountains often look pretty grungy.

[blueamy66]

45. Come to AZ and have a sip of tap water

and you will RUN to the nearest store for bottled water. Seriously.

[lynne]

49. I have nothing against bottled water, I buy it myself -

- although I have tried to curtail it somewhat as we were spending $10.- $15. week on bottled water at one point. Now I only buy if I haven't remembered to bring along my own water bottle filled from my tap.

I don't blame anyone with nasty tasting water for buying the stuff. In fact, some bottled water taste better than others.

[blueamy66]

58. I shop the sales.

CVS had cases for $1.88 each last week. I bought 5 of them.

In the Summer in Chandler, AZ, the tap water smells like a fish tank. It's disgusting.

Now when I go home to Buffalo, the tap water is fine....but I still can't drink it, as I already have this AZ water "mindset". :-)

[AngryAmish]

5. Manditory in all model building codes

That means they must exist in every public building throughout the us.

[cali]

7. I must say, I think this op is representative of something very common on DU

[bluestate10]

13. Care to elaborate?

I sometimes sharply disagree with you, but value your posts.

[cali]

16. thanks. yeah, I think it demonstrates

a reactionary strain of thought. Not that I don't understand the impulse, and not that the OP couldn't have made a valid point- but not with the OP he/she posted.

[WinkyDink]

17. Or simply not Googling, or investigating in person.

[Syrinx]

24. I know it sounds surreal, dystopic.

But multinational corporations are actively trying to corner the market on water. It's true.

[cali]

27. yes, it's true, but the example you employed is

not a good one.

[Syrinx]

30. well excuse me for a poor example

If you agree with my point, help me make it, instead of always trying to prove you're the smartest person in the room.

[cali]

32. aargh. I am not the smartest person in the room. I never claim that

look, you devalued the point that water is being commodified by making claims that aren't true. Find some good articles about the subject (there are some about this happening in CA) and many about it happening in S. America and India. Here's a recent article:

Wars over water


Your access to water depends on your ability to pay...

Senior executives of 16 North American companies are descending on Bengaluru in a “Water Trade Mission” initiated by the U.S. government's commercial service arm. Their purpose is to “tap the $50 billion Indian Water Market.” To attract American companies, the mission projects “tremendous” figures in the Indian water sector, from water treatment to taking over water supply services and waste water management.

For the $3000 that these companies pay for the trip, the potential water business in India comes as a bounty. The U.S. government is leaving no stone unturned to ‘ initiate or expand' the companies' involvement in India's emerging global water market.

Secret mission

The mission is cloaked in secrecy. The U.S. Commercial Services office in Bangalore has told us that Indian citizens are not allowed to have any information pertaining to the mission. Those details are reserved by the U.S. government solely for U.S. citizens and U.S. companies. But it is India's water that is up for sale. Though the objectives of the visit were put on the U.S. commercial services website more than three months ago, the chief Engineer of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board learnt about them only when the Americans walked into his office last week.

If the privatisation of water is good for India, why is it being done so secretively? In Mysore, bureaucrats waited for seven months for the elected council to be dissolved before giving away the Mysore Water Board to a private company. Elected representatives have become subservient to senior bureaucrats and business contracts more sacrosanct than public opinion, deliberation, and democracy.

<snip>

http://www.hindu.com/mag/2011/03/20/stories/2011032050260400.htm

Just because I believe that a well crafted, factual argument is more persuasive than one full of holes, doesn't mean I'm "stuck up" or think I'm just so smart. I do think that poor arguments do more harm than good.

[onenote]

36. +1

You make a point that I've also tried to make here: it doesn't advance an argument to make it so poorly that you allow the other side to cast doubt on the underlying claim. But, unfortunately, that is what happens here on DU on many (not all or even most, but still quite a few) occasions

[cali]

38. yeah, it happens a lot.

and with the access we have to information and facts, it needn't.

[Syrinx]

41. I wasn't even making an "argument"

I was posting an "observation."

If you people don't see what is going on with water, well that is just a tragedy.

[cali]

42. oh for fuck's sake. YOU are the one arguing for the sake of arguing

oh and you're welcome for the article I posted. Now if only you'd do some fucking research and craft a half decent post on the subject.

[TomClash]

9. Companies forever seek profit

And are never satisfied. That's the most important reason for privatization.

[bluestate10]

14. Bottled water in public places is a pretty weak flame target.

I have never been in a public place that does not have fountains. When in public, I buy bottled water for convenience sake. And I give one shit whether I am buying a Coca-Cola product, when I buy the water. At home, I drink only refrigerated tap water, my city's water supply is rated one of the best in the nation.

[TomClash]

53. It's a $60 billion industry

Pretty convenient.

[bluestate10]

70. Driven by people that choose to buy bottled water.

I am one that purchased bottled water and only drank that water source. I cooked with tap water. BTW, I purchased bottled water when the industry was in it's infancy and I had my choice in stores. The situation got to the point within the last two years where finding the bottled water that I wanted to buy, the distilled varieties, became a hassle because other buyers were buying out supplies and I was left with the flavored shit as the choices. I discovered that my tap water was delicious and now use that for all my water needs.

Pardon the long aside, my point is that no one is forcing people to buy bottled water. No one put a gun to my head when I stopped buying bottled water. Politician may ultimately try to privatize water supplies and allow their contributors to rake in money. But by keeping an eye on local politics and decisions, we as voters can prevent that result.

[TomClash]

74. You are right

You weren't forced to buy bottled water, but you were manipulated into buying it, just like me and millions of others.

[Jim__]

10. When the IMF and World Bank "help" a country that is in trouble, ...

... one of the first things they do is demand that the water supply be privatized. Yes, they want us to pay for everything - under their model, it all belongs to them.

[bluestate10]

21. One way to stop illness and eliminate parasites.

Is to improve water supplies. Many poor countries often do not have the resources or the will to improve water supplies, hence a roll for private companies that do have the know how to build and operate clean water supplies. The issue is one of the most efficient utilization of aid dollars and getting the largest positive impact from aid dollars, not the issue that you claim.

[Jim__]

44. It's not done on an as needed basis. It's a standard requirement.

This often leads to many people in the country losing access to clean water.

[bluestate10]

71. Then the policy is wrong and must change. nt

[bluestate10]

12. You may want to consider picking a different cause. nt

[Syrinx]

18. what do you mean?

Water privatization is a huge issue. It just struck a nerve with me, when I saw an ad for WATER on tv.

[bluestate10]

25. It does not seem to be an issue worth fighting to me, IMO.

I consider bottled water a trivial expense. As I have posted, I only buy bottled water when in public for convenience. I drink tap water at home. Television commercials for bottled water have no impact on me. If people buy bottled water because of television commercials, then wow for them.

[WinkyDink]

20. Report back after you DO check the malls, your court-house, and your library.

"Has this country become so sick, so perverted, so misguided, that you won't even be allowed a sip of water, unless you are able to pay for it?"

Bizarre rant. Have you been unaware for your entire life that we pay WATER BILLS???

[Syrinx]

22. it's not bizarre at all. They want to take your water.

http://www.sierraclub.org/committees/cac/water/

[cali]

29. they may want to take our water but you made a claim that simply

doesn't hold... water.

[Syrinx]

31. what claim is that?

[cali]

33. I'm going to help you make your argument

because I do think it's essentially a vital one. I just think you presented it poorly.

and yes, you basically claimed that water is in this country is under corporate control. It's not. But we could head that way.

[Syrinx]

35. no I did not

I did insinuate that it's headed that way. And it is.

[cali]

37. Sure you did. Right here:

It may seem like a small thing at first glance. But why, oh why, are giant corporations allowed to brand something so basic to human survival as water?

Has this country become so sick, so perverted, so misguided, that you won't even be allowed a sip of water, unless you are able to pay for it?

Why bother denying it. Now I posted an article upthread that I think will help make your argument.

[Syrinx]

39. you say seem to agree with me on facts and issues

You seem to only argue for argue's sake.

I guess that's okay.

[cali]

40. aargh again. you seem to be entirely missing the point: Your op

doesn't aid in furthering your argument. Please look at the piece I posted upthread. That does.

[Syrinx]

28. Are you not aware that the Republican party (and the Dems too) want to privatize everything?

Even the fucking water that you need to stay alive?

They want to make water-delivery a for-profit business. NOT a utility.

The government wants you to die, if you can't pay for a sip of water. That's how bad it's getting.

[geckosfeet]

26. I know there are some in airports.

[bettyellen]

47. ha, I went looking for 45 minutes for one last year - ended up cupping water from the sink

I have noticed their upkeep being pretty shitty and the fountains themselves being few and far between. Dept stores used to have them outside every bathroom, didn;t they? Newer ones around here definately do not. They all have a Satrbucks instead thesedays. I have definately noticed this myself in NY.

[geckosfeet]

52. Some airports. Near the restrooms. Just saw some a few weeks ago,,,

filled an empty water bottle from them!

[bettyellen]

55. i can't remember where this stopover was, but no one working there knew where one was! kept telling

me to buy water but the kiosks weren;t open yet. there was nothing by the bathroom, that's why I drank the sinks water, crazy.
i noticed it in our local Target last week too, I do think there are less public ones these days. my new office has one for the whole floor, before we moved it we had seven per floor. there is often a wait to get water now, and it has already broke down once from over use. and this is from a major award winning "green" architect's plan. Go figure.

[Retrograde]

62. Travel tip - carry a small refillable bottle with you

I have a supply that originally was filled with Costco's bottled water - it's about 8 ounces, a convenient size to fit in my purse or even pocket. It and its like have flown with me around the country and to Europe (I empty it before dealing with TSA, and refill it afterwards); I've yet tp encounter an airport in the US that doesn't have water fountains. Cities are more problematic; however, since water fountains are supplied from the same water source as sinks I just find a restroom and top up my bottle when needed. I don't recommend doing this in some places, like Las Vegas, where the drinking water is abominable, but most places have palatable municipal water supplies.

In general, I've found the US better supplied with public fountains than Europe. Rome (the one in Italy) has a great collection of public fountains that were designed hundreds of years ago to supply water to the public, and the public still drinks from them. They look extremely ornamental, but if you watch the natives you can figure out how to divert a jet into your bottle.

But then again, if the public goes back to drinking the local tap stuff, how are Coke and Pepsi going to make more money?

[bettyellen]

65. I do, I had just drank it all and was thirsty because of allergy meds

boy, i was parched.

[Obamanaut]

34. Yes, even at Walmart

But I might be the only one willing to admit to knowing that.

[JVS]

43. The fountains are still there, their upkeep is pretty shitty though.

[Festivito]

48. Detroit had a public water supply law that lasted 100 years, and now lapsed.

Slowly, free water will disappear. Not fast. Just slowly enough that we as a people will not suddenly realize it.

Outside water access has disappeared in the Detroit area. It used to be on the outside of public toilets. Now, it moves inside the building which is locked at night.

There is a trend. Keep mindful of the posters who deter your investigation.

[MineralMan]

50. Yes, there are. They are mandated in most building codes

for buildings with public access. Perhaps you're just not looking for a drinking fountain. If you look, you'll find them. Try the area near the restrooms, also required by most codes.

Good luck in your quest for drinking water.

[MineralMan]

51. Drinking fountains are also standard in public parks.

Here's how to find them in my city of Saint Paul, MN:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=saint+paul+parks+drinking+fountains

[Codeine]

54. Dial it down a notch. Fountains are all over.

Most building codes require them.

[bobbolink]

56. "But why, oh why, are giant corporations allowed to brand something so basic to human survival as

water?"

Because we allow it.

Simple as that.

[Snoutport]

57. In the US pretty common...what about poorer countries?

why dig a well when you can buy Desani water by Coco cola?

[Obamanaut]

59. Some say that the US military should not be used as 'World Police', in part

because of the expense involved.

So it should be with water fountains, etc. There is enough deteriorating infrastructure in the US that we should worry more about that before we tackle the job of 'World Water Fountain Police.'

First things first.

[cali]

68. that's not the problem

the problem is the privatization of municipal water supplies. And yes, it's started in the U.S.

[blueamy66]

60. Again...

come to AZ and TRY to drink the tap water....then talk to us....

[Retrograde]

63. It won't kill you

it just tastes terrible. Of course, not every place in AZ has the same water - the stuff I had in Tempe last summer wasn't bad, compared to most Colorado River water.

Now if you all would just stop using those misters to air-condition the outdoors...

[blueamy66]

64. HA!

I know.

Hey, it's not my fault that my Dad fought with his city manager in HAWAII and moved my family to this hell that is AZ because of it!! :-)

The taste WILL kill you! :-) Unless you enjoy fish tank water. :-)

[Quantess]

61. Water? Like, from the toilet?

[Liberal_in_LA]

66. heck yeah! Outside almost every restroom in public places and malls

[hfojvt]

69. you mean bubblers?

Only in Wisconsin.

[tammywammy]

72. I see water fountains all the time.

:shrug:

At my work we have one in my building, but it's broken. No biggie, one the water tastes nasty anyway and two there's an Ozarka water deal just on the other side of the wall. I know they're going to get rid of the big Ozarka water bottle deals and install a hard-lined filtered water dispenser.

edited to add: I keep one of these at work with me (and there's one in my car and one on the table beside my bed).

[SoCalDem]

73. Probably not as many as there once were.

The public was told over and over how "unsanitary" they were..remember all the "EyewitnessNews" style exposés there used to be about them?

Makes me wonder now if the bottled water people might have had a vested interest in all those "investigations"..

[Rex]

75. As far as I know, all public buildings have water fountains.

And most private buildings do to...that I've been in.