Drinking fountains in the City

Posted 25th May 2010

The City of London has inaugurated a new programme of drinking fountains in the City area as part of their drive to become more green by cutting down or removing the need to transport bottled water over vast distances when high quality potable water is available to all in London. The water is accessed by the user and is free on demand.

On the 21st May, 2010, Mr. Robert Duffield, Chairman of Port Health and Environmental Services Committee, opened the first drinking fountain which is installed in Carter Lane Gardens opposite St. Paul’s Cathedral as part of an ongoing upgrade of works in the area which will include the restoration of the adjacent St. Lawrence Jewry fountain which dates back to 1866. This feature will also incorporate a drinking water facility.

The drinking water fountain is of a new design format, which is produced by a Spanish Company and exported to the U.K., and is a vertical block design with a pressure tap (finger operated) which allows the user to refill water bottles. The fountain is directly fed from the local potable supply and is protected by a double check valve on the water supply feed and the ground area below the tap is arranged with a floor grate to dispose of waste water. The operation range is down to -5° and is thermally insulated below ground.

A very useful addition to the St. Paul’s area, especially for the dry/hot summer months when you consider the volume of visiting tourists to this area.