Water Fountains: An Airport Amenity?

Water fountains are a common sight in airports around the world, and they are usually located near the restrooms. However, not all airports have water fountains, and some travellers have expressed frustration at having to pay for expensive bottled water. In the UK, any licensed premises serving alcohol must provide free tap water, although they can charge a service fee. Travellers can also bring an empty bottle through security and fill it up on the other side, although this is dependent on the availability of water fountains or bottle-filling stations.

Water fountain availability varies across airports

In Europe, there are water fountains in every airport, usually located in or near the restrooms. However, one traveller could not find a water fountain in Venice airport.

In the UK, any licensed premises (serving alcohol) must provide free tap water upon request. However, these establishments can charge a service fee. Major UK airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and Southampton are known to have drinking water fountains.

To avoid having to pay for water at the airport, travellers are advised to bring an empty bottle through security and fill it up at a water fountain or ask for tap water at a food outlet.

You can take an empty bottle through security and fill it up at a fountain or food outlet

If you are worried about the hygiene of drinking fountains, you can bring sanitizing wipes to wipe the fountain down before use, or use a filter or sanitizing agent in your water. You can also fill your bottle on the plane, or ask for tap water at a restaurant or bar.

In the UK, any licensed premises serving alcohol must provide free tap water upon request, although they can charge a service fee. Some airports, such as Gatwick, do not have water fountains, but food outlets will provide tap water if asked.

Websites such as www.wateratairports.com and apps like 'free drinking water at airport departures' can help you find out where to fill up your water bottle at a particular airport.

Some airports have dedicated bottle-filling stations

It can be a challenge to find drinking water in airports. Many people are forced to pay for a bottle of water after passing through security. However, some airports have dedicated bottle-filling stations, separate from drinking fountains, where travellers can refill their water bottles.

Websites like www.wateratairports.com and apps like the one from www.skyparksecure.com help travellers find drinking water refills at airports. These resources can direct you to airports with water fountains and bottle-filling stations, as well as food outlets that will fill your bottle if you can't find a fountain.

Some travellers have reported difficulty finding water fountains in certain airports, such as St. Maarten and Newark. However, others have confirmed the availability of water fountains and filling stations in airports like Denver, Newark, Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and Southampton.

When travelling, it's always a good idea to bring an empty bottle through security and fill it up on the other side, reducing waste and saving money. Some travellers suggest carrying sanitizing wipes or a sanitizing agent to clean the bottle-filling station or fountain before use, although the risk of catching an illness from a water fountain is generally low.

So, the next time you fly, remember to pack your reusable water bottle and take advantage of the dedicated bottle-filling stations available at many airports.

Water fountains are usually located near restrooms

Water fountains can be found in most airports around the world, usually located in or near the restrooms. However, their availability may vary depending on the airport and country. While some airports have water fountains readily available, others may require passengers to request tap water from food outlets or use bottle-filling stations.

It is important to note that regulations and accessibility of drinking water can differ across regions. For example, in the UK, licensed premises serving alcohol are obliged to provide free tap water upon request, but they can also administer a service charge.

To ensure access to drinking water when travelling, it is recommended to bring an empty water bottle through airport security and fill it up at a water fountain or designated bottle-filling station. This helps to reduce single-use plastic waste and saves money, as bottled water prices at airports can be high.

Additionally, it is worth considering bringing sanitizing wipes or a filter/sanitizing agent for the water, especially when travelling to regions with questionable water quality. Overall, staying hydrated while travelling is crucial, and airports usually provide access to drinking water through various means.

You can also fill your bottle on the plane

If you're concerned about finding a water fountain in the airport, or worried about the hygiene of the water fountain, you can always fill your bottle on the plane. This saves a few plastic cups (although the water does come from a plastic bottle). It's worth noting that this may not be an option on shorter flights, and it's always worth asking the flight attendants first.

If you're concerned about the environmental impact of plastic waste, it's worth noting that most airports have stations to fill up water bottles, separate from the drinking fountains. These are often located in or near the restrooms, or in the food outlets. You can also find out if your airport has a website or app that lists the locations of water fountains.

If you're worried about the hygiene of the water fountain, you can always wipe it down with a sanitizing wipe before using it, or use a filter or sanitizing agent for the water. You can also run the water for a few seconds before filling your bottle to flush out any impurities.

Remember, it's always best to bring an empty water bottle with you through airport security and fill it up on the other side if there are facilities available.

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