Everyone has heard the recommendation to drink at least eight glasses of water per day. This mark is easier than ever to hit with reusable water bottles becoming trendy to carry, but what happens when you finish that bottle?
Eventually, everyone has to get a refill, but not all water bottle fillers are made equal.
There are more than 40 buildings on American University’s campus, many of which have a water fountain on each floor, leaving students with plenty of options to choose from.
The ideal fountain is easily accessible but isn’t too crowded. The fountain machine next to Panera is busy to the point that it is an unpleasant experience. The ideal fountain’s water is also in a sort of Goldilocks-zone – it is not too cold, but it isn’t lukewarm either.
Excessively cold water is harder to drink quickly and so it can be difficult to quickly rehydrate with. Keeping these standards in mind, let’s get into the rankings. From two years on this campus and discussions with fellow fountain aficionados, here is a list of the best and worst options to refill your water bottle on campus.
The Worst: I would almost rather no water at all
#3: Fountain machine next to Panera
This water is not the absolute worst on campus, but it is the most disappointing.
Ever since the dining hall was moved into Mary Graydon Center room 128 amid the Terrace Dining Room renovation, this water has become inconsistent and is oftentimes not cold enough.
I presume it is due to overuse because it now shoulders the weight of the typical Panera customers and the TDR-goers. This fountain was not built for this much use, and in a way, I pity it.
#2: Constitution Hall Lobby
The bottle filler in the lobby of Constitution Hall shares a problem with many of its peers across campus – it automatically stops filling the bottle at a certain point even when the bottle has not moved from the motion sensor.
While this mechanism is a good idea in theory, it should wait just a few seconds longer. My container of choice is a 40-ounce Hydro Flask that does not fill up completely before the fountain shuts off.
It’s a minor inconvenience to remove and replace the bottle, but there are plenty of other fountains on campus that do not have this issue. The fountain on the second floor of the School of International Service shares the premature shutoff of Constitution, but SIS’ is consistently a better temperature than Constitution’s warm water.
#1: Letts Hall Lobby
The water bottle filler in the lobby of Letts Hall is incredibly frustrating.
It never has a consistent temperature, and yet, is somehow never cold – always just a little too warm. Warm water is not refreshing in the way cold water is, and while it may hydrate you all the same, it is not an enjoyable experience.
The Best: My saving graces
#3: Jacobs Fitness Center
I’m honestly not sure how good this water is on its own, but it doesn’t matter. This fountain is an oasis in the desert.
There is nothing worse than running out of water during a workout, and this fountain remedies that problem. It is well placed (near the stairs up to the cardio machines) and sits between the sets of weights and near the wrestling room and varsity athlete weight room.
In a gym divided, it unites.
#2: Spout on the first floor of Hurst
This faucet is wonderful. It is in a quiet space in a calm building and is always the perfect temperature.
The one bad thing about it isn’t even about the fountain itself – there are no fountains on the second floor of the building. If you have class up there, make sure to hit the bathrooms in the basement and the bottle filler on the first floor before you settle down up top.
It fills up quickly, but not so quickly that it overflows and spills.
#1: Spout in between the bathrooms on the second floor of MGC
This spout has all the positives of Hurst’s with none of the negatives.
Sitting on the second floor from MGC and far from any classrooms, it is typically serene. The filler is part of a fountain duo, and has a ledge to place non-water beverages. Additionally, it’s between two bathrooms for when the water finishes its journey within our bodies.
This fountain is everything you could ask for — it is the perfect not-too-cold but still refreshing temperature, is easily accessible and is never busy.
Honorable Mentions: They get the job done
SIS first floor
This fountain is solid. It will get you water, but nothing about it thrills. This fountain is the standard, but nothing special.
TDR fountain machine water tabs
This fountain is consistently cold, but is, admittedly, sometimes too cold.
Spring Valley Building first floor by the bathrooms
This fountain is consistently good but loses points by nature of being in the Spring Valley Building.
This article was edited by Eliza DuBose, Sara Winick and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks and Charlie Mennuti.
