6/26/2023 0 Comments Age of water garden fountains![]() The Romans took public access to water a step further, building sophisticated aqueducts to transport water from distant springs to fountains in their cities. Pausanias, a geographer in the second century B.C.E., went so far as to write that no place deserved to be called a city if it didn't have a public drinking fountain. He's the co-founder and president emeritus of the Pacific Institute, and author of the book " Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water."īut while drinking fountains might seem as if they're going the way of the telephone booth, there also are signs that they are making a comeback, thanks to concerns about the environmental impact of disposable plastic bottles.Īs Gleick notes in his book, the idea of public drinking fountains dates back to ancient Greece, when spring-fed fountains were placed in temples and dedicated to gods and goddesses. While nobody is really sure exactly how many drinking fountains there are in public and private buildings and outdoor areas in the U.S., "There are certainly fewer than there used to be," says Peter H. A recent opinion article in an architectural magazine bore the headline: "Do we need the commercial office drinking fountain?" But if you've ever searched for a drinking fountain in a big-box store or shopping mall and finally located one tucked in some obscure corner, it may feel otherwise. While the drinking fountain hasn't vanished from the built environment by any means - many places still have regulations requiring them in buildings, experts note - their future seems unsure. It's a technology that is seen as so important for health that the International Plumbing Code calls for having one fountain for every 100 occupants in schools and office buildings. ![]() We're in an age when many Americans choose to pay to obtain hydration from a single-use, disposable plastic bottle, instead of relying upon drinking fountains, a technology for delivering water to thirsty people that's been around for centuries.
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