Refreshment for hot days: City of Jena expands drinking fountain network

On hot summer days, they offer a free opportunity for refreshment: the public drinking fountains in Jena. This year, four more locations will be added to the existing range. New drinking fountains are being built on Wenigenjenaer Ufer, at Kritzegraben, in Merseburger Straße and as part of the "Beim Mönchenberge" construction project.

Free drinking water for everyone

Public drinking fountains are already available at Wasserachse Winzerla, Karl-Marx-Allee in Lobeda, the Phyletisches Museum, Engelplatz, Marktplatz, Nonnenplan (Holzmarkt) and the Löbstedter Straße green space. The new locations bring the network to a total of eleven drinking fountains.

"Easy and free access to drinking water is an important component of preventive healthcare and benefits everyone - regardless of age, income or origin. Especially in times of increasing heat stress, public drinking fountains create a low-threshold offer that protects health and makes everyday life easier for many people," emphasizes Kathleen Lützkendorf, Head of Social Affairs, Health, Immigration and Climate.

Contribution to climate-adapted urban development

With the additional locations, the city is continuing its efforts to expand the supply of free drinking water in public spaces. The cost of installing a drinking fountain is between 20,000 and 30,000 euros, depending on the location. They depend, among other things, on the earthworks required and the length of the new drinking water pipes to be laid.

Regular maintenance ensures high water quality

The wells supply high-quality drinking water. To this end, they are regularly maintained and checked for possible germs. In addition, automatic flushing processes ensure that the water always remains fresh. Anyone who suddenly sees a drinking fountain running without being used need not worry - the system carries out an automatic flush in this case.

"With the new drinking fountains on Wenigenjenaer Ufer and Kritzegraben, we are expanding the public infrastructure with a service that is appreciated by many people. The fountains provide fresh drinking water of the best quality at all times and are regularly maintained and hygienically checked. In this way, we are creating a reliable and sustainable option for refreshment in the city," says Uwe Feige, Plant Manager of Kommunalservice Jena.

Winter break to protect against frost

To protect against frost, the drinking fountains are taken out of operation during the winter months. The so-called winter break usually lasts from October to May.

Additional drinking fountain locations will be examined as part of future planning and construction projects. However, concrete decisions have not yet been made.