Refilling drinks bottles from communal water fountains or taps

[Julia259]

Is there any evidence to show that re-filling drinking bottles from taps / fountains can lead to cross contamination and passing of germs?

[Ethel]

Far more likely to get germs from the tap or button to operate the drinking fountain.

Just run the water for a second or two and then hold your bottle in the flow without coming into contact with the tap.

[Backdrifter]

I don't know about evidence, but logically I'd say it could. People who drink straight from water bottles tend to ram the neck right up against the tap, thereby transferring to the tap bacteria and anything else nestling on the rim of their bottle. People also tend not to wash drinking bottles either.

I know we're probably too germ-conscious, but no-one wants to get someone else's cold viruses etc from water cooler taps.

[aurelia]

There has been a safewty alert at my work from the education department about water bottles as kids are iven water bottles and allowed to drink them during the day in class as water is meant to hydrate the brain and help them concentrate more.

the safety alert was cautioning people to ensure that the watwr bottles were rinsed thoroughly each day as otherwise bacteria coukd develop.