Drinking Out of Public Water Fountains

Came across a poll during my travels 'round the web.


How often do you drink out of public water fountains?

19,145 voted
60% Never,
30% Occasionally
10% Regularly

I am in the 10% that regularly drink from public water fountains. During homeless days even more so than normally. I would fill a water bottle from fountains and plan my walks to arrive at places where I knew a fountain was readily available. Rest room, also.

I used to get nagged to death by people in Long Beach. "NOOOO!!! You must never drink out of a water fountain; the gays spit in them and you will get AIDS!!!" My big issue with the beach water fountains is the amount of sand in them from people using them to bathe children or wash sandy clogs, bathing suits and so on. The sinks are a terror of clogs due to misuse. People other than gays can spit in them, but the spit would have to land on spigot ~ what ever it is called where the water shoots out.

And I look at it for cleanliness. Lots of bird poo or dead leaves wind up in park fountains. Easily wiped clean. Even if I did not do that, and an HI-virus infected person did spit on the mouthpiece, it is at least 99% sure that I would not get the virus.