From the Blue Community / Blue City of Paris and its public water service Eau de Paris:
World Water Day: In Paris, water is a symbol of solidarity.
Through an extensive network of fountains, but also targeted actions and a controlled price, Eau de Paris makes access to water a concrete right for everyone, including the most disadvantaged.
Every year on March 22nd, World Water Day, established by the United Nations, reminds us of the need to guarantee universal access to this essential resource. Worldwide, nearly 2 billion people still lack safe access to drinking water. This day is therefore a call to action to make access to water a universal and effective right for everyone.
In Paris, this commitment takes a concrete form. In the capital’s streets, squares, parks, and gardens, more than 1,300 fountains offer free, high-quality water to all passersby. Paris is thus among the European cities best equipped with public drinking fountains.
This unique network is complemented by the “Ici je choisis l’eau de Paris” (here I drink Paris water) network and its 1,500 participating businesses, which provide free water. To easily locate them, Eau de Paris has developed an interactive map. –> Open the map in full screen
A vital right
Because access to water is vital, Eau de Paris is increasing its efforts to support the most vulnerable populations, providing water bottles to associations and keeping several water points open year-round, even in freezing conditions, to meet the needs of homeless people. Thanks
to the 2024 participatory budget, Eau de Paris notably installed a fountain in September 2025 in the courtyard of the Refuge de la Mie de Pain , a shelter that welcomes 380 people in dire straits every day.
The price of water, a symbol of this solidarity
A basic necessity, water in Paris is the cheapest in the country. For all types of daily use, Parisian water costs €0.0042 per liter. As of January 1, 2026, the total price of a cubic meter of water is €4.23 including VAT/m³, excluding any subscription fees. The daily water expense for a family of four in Paris is approximately €2.45 per day, or €74.70 per month. Learn more about the price of water.
To help people in dire straits, the public utility also contributes €600,000 annually to the Housing Solidarity Fund. This fund can, for example, cover unpaid bills, including water bills.
Facilitating access to water, a vital resource and common good, and supporting the most vulnerable populations are public service missions.
The fountains are also emerging from winter.
Every year, some of the drinking fountains in Paris must be taken out of service during the winter months. This preventative measure aims to avoid the risk of freezing and to allow for maintenance. The gradual reopening of the fountains in Paris began in March and will continue until the end of April. During this time, technical work is carried out to guarantee the quality and performance of the service.
