Drinking fountains

Design

Good design

See the following corporate documents to identify relevant project design requirements:

Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme

Sunshine Coast Design

Open Space Landscape Infrastructure Manual (LIM)

Embellishment requirements

Warranty and asset life

Drinking fountains

Once the location of the drinking fountain has been decided, based on the Environment and Liveability Strategy (ELS) and Recreation Parks Plan (RPP) guidance, consider the appropriate embellishment level to suit the selected site.

Overarching design considerations:

• All open spaces should include universal access (e.g. provide drinking fountains at different heights for a variety of users; equal access model, low height model and dual height model). Where a single drinking fountain is installed, ensure the product includes universal access features and that there is sufficient wheelchair approach space.
• Required design features include a Grade 316 stainless steel bolt down body and an easy to clean, low maintenance food grade finish.
• Incorporate water saving measures and contamination prevention. Do NOT install water filters.

Design of a drinking fountain

The drinking fountain as a whole product (including all fittings and pipes) must have WaterMark certification – a mandatory certification scheme for plumbing and drainage products to ensure products are fit for purpose. 

Drinking fountains and bottle fillers are deregulated and do NOT require (Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme) registration or WELS labelling, provided they meet specific conditions. 

• Waste water must drain internally within the unit as water allowed to splash onto pathways can promote mould build up and create slip hazards.
• The drinking fountain outlet should have a minimum air gap of 25 mm above the rim of the fountain.
• Water filters must NOT be installed.
• Drinking fountains must be fitted with a water saving, push button tap on a timer.
• If the fountain is lever operated, the lever should be robust enough to withstand prolonged use and vandalism.
• No water is to spill back from a user’s mouth onto the water nozzle (contamination prevention).

See Figure 1: Typical drinking fountain unit options.

Materials, fixings and finishes

• Drinking fountains must be 316 marine grade stainless steel (e.g. bead blasted or brush finish).
  • Powder-coating, 2 pack epoxy or painted surfaces are NOT accepted due to potential paint chipping, requiring ongoing maintenance
  • Fixings are to be 316 marine grade stainless steel.

• Designed to be bolted on a concrete slab via a mounting plate using anti-vandal ‘armour rings’ or equivalent to avoid excavation of slab if replacement is necessary.
• The drinking fountain must have minimal welding joins between the basin and the post to reduce corrosion and vandalism.

Combine unit - drinking fountain and bottle filling station

Once the location of the bottle filling station has been decided, based on the Environment and Liveability Strategy (ELS) and Recreation Parks Plan (RPP) guidance, consider the appropriate embellishment level to suit the selected site.

Design considerations:

• The requirements are as per above drinking fountain, in addition to the following.
• Open spaces should always include universal access (eg. bottle filling stations should be installed as an equal access model (drinking fountain/bottle filling station combination unit).
  • Do not install a dual height drinking fountain incorporated with a bottle filling station, as (depending on the design) the bottle filling station may be difficult to access by a person using a wheelchair.
• Waste water from bottle filling stations must drain internally within the unit, as water allowed to splash onto pathways can create slip hazards and promote mould build up. Do NOT install water filters.

Combine unit design - drinking fountain and bottle filling station

A combined drinking fountain with a bottle filling station must fulfil all of the design requirements for a drinking fountain and the following additional requirements:

• Waste water must drain internally within the unit as water allowed to splash onto pathways can promote mould build up and create slip hazards.
• Water filters must NOT be installed.
• Push button (‘time flow’ tapware) or lever control or pressure pad operation. Max allowable operation force 19.5N.

See Figure 2: Typical drinking fountain unit options.

Dog bowl attachment

Dog bowls should NOT be installed where dogs are prohibited, such as children’s playgrounds, barbecue areas, etc.

For further guidance see LIM Dog exercise areas (DEAs).

Dog bowl on drinking fountain

Design considerations:

A dog drinking bowl attached to a drinking fountain is NOT preferred due to safety and hygiene risk.

• However, if installed, the dog bowl must be on the opposite side of the post to the drinking fountain bowl.

• The preference is for a dog bowl to be attached to a standalone post with tap. 

Dog bowl on drinking fountain/bottle filling

Figure 1: Typical drinking fountain unit options

Council plumbing and underground services requirements

Discharging into open roadside kerb and channel is NOT permitted.

Dishcharge options in order of preference:

• 1st option – sanitary drain (it is not mandatory to connect to a sanitary drain or sewer, however, if the drinking fountain is in close proximity (within 10 m) to a connection or existing sanitary drain, it is highly recommended).
• 2nd option – a rubble pit/soakage trench.

General requirements

• Drinking fountains/bottle filling stations must be installed as per the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 by a licensed plumber.
• Plumbing works may require a Council plumbing compliance application and permit or notifiable works as per Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019. Contact Council (Development Services) - Plumbing Services.
• If there is no water supply available an application must be made to Unitywater for a new water meter to supply the park/reserve (this may not apply in all situations).
• Products must hold current WaterMark certification to indicate the product has been tested and has passed requirements regarding its suitability for supplying water for human consumption.
• Products must be marked with the WaterMark logo and License Number.
• Plumbing connections and components are to be fully enclosed in the fountain body. Provide maintenance access panel for in situ repairs.
• Drinking fountains/bottle filling stations must be installed by a licensed plumber (Drainers Licence is not sufficient).

Water supply

All drinking fountains are required to link to mains water supply with:

1. an appropriate dual check valve (back flow prevention device)
2. an isolation valve (for emergency shut off) on the supply line of each embellishment. Installed in an easily accessible location within 1.0 m of the drinking fountain, not inside the fountain
3. a pressure limiting valve.

The waste water discharge method illustrated is an example only and must be determined by calculated usage and site/soil conditions.

Discharging water

Inspection pit

• Install inspection pit to ensure potential issues can be identified e.g. tree roots
• Maximum 1.0 m from drinking fountain.

Outlet pipes

• The outlet pipe is to be a nominal 65 mm diameter with a self-cleansing fall.

Method of discharging water

The following method of discharging waste water should be used:

1. Soakage trench
   • The following items must be undertaken to establish the most effective soakage trench design and location:
     • calculating the usage
     • site evaluation/soil test
     • see LIM Drinking fountains - Positioning for best practice soakage trench locations.
   • Minimum 1.0 m deep x 1.0 m wide x length (site specific particularly where ground levels are flat or site has minimal slope).

There are many factors that ensure a soakage trench proves successful, see LIM Drinking fountains - Positioning for further guidance.

See Figure 2: Elevation – drinking fountain with soakage trench discharge.

Figure 2: Elevation – drinking fountain with soakage trench discharge