Water Cap

grabcad

Drinking fountains are a public service found in schools, airports, and offices, and it is important that they are clean and safe for use. Often, there is a layer of patina on the spout because the metal undergoes oxidation. Also, the fountain has a cooling unit that releases heat and in turn heats the water fountain. This combination of heat and water are ideal conditions for bacteria formation. The water on the spout also leads to bacteria formation that could affect the user. A study has shown that toilet water is cleaner than drinking fountains which shows the health concerns that fountains pose. The Water Cap is a simple and effective prototype that will cover the water spout on these fountains and keep the source where the water comes from clean. The part will be created using Fused Deposition Modeling in ABS Plastic. It fits the spout and will cover the metal, preventing it from forming patina or bacteria. It is a good starting point for a cleaner drinking fountain. However, self-cleaning drinking fountains where the basin is flushed with water would be an optimal solution since it cleanses the basin which could host bacteria formation. Public facilities such as drinking fountains should be maintained, but this maintenance could start with a simple engineering design change.