Austria’s capital Vienna puts 1600th drinking fountain into operation.
Vienna’s public water utility Wiener Wasser has put the 1600th drinking fountain in the city into operation, setting a new record. The drinking fountains provide thirsty people in the capital with water at low cost.
They can be seen everywhere in Vienna: the public drinking fountains are now an integral part of the city’s districts, providing tourists and locals with water during the hottest hours of the day.
In recent years, the Austrian capital has not let up: Many new fountains have been built. Now another milestone has been reached: the 1600th water dispenser has been put into operation.
For climate councillor Jürgen Czernohorszky (SPÖ), the low-threshold water supply is important: “More drinking fountains are an important contribution to the health and quality of life of the Viennese and offer protection on hot days.” The water campaign is not over yet; the city councillor sees further potential for fountains in newly designed squares.
Since 2021, the number of drinking fountains has increased by 500, with another 100 added last year alone. The total of 1600 water dispensers also includes 75 ‘Brunnhilden’ – eye-catching drinking fountains in the city centre.
Vienna’s low-threshold water supply is impressive. There are 80 drinking fountains per 100,000 inhabitants in the city. This is many times more than in the German capital, Berlin, where there are ‘only’ 6 drinking fountains for the same number of people.
While the fountains are ‘dormant’ in winter to prevent the pipes from freezing, they are switched on in spring. The annual start-up traditionally begins around World Water Day on 22 March in the city centre, where the risk of frost in spring is low. The fountains on the outskirts of the city follow suit,’ explains Vienna Water boss Paul Hellmeier. So don’t forget your bottle: You can fill it up almost everywhere in the city.
