Magdeburg (dpa/sa) – There are only a few public drinking water fountains in Saxony-Anhalt’s cities. In the state capital Magdeburg there have been no such drinking water dispensers for years, as a spokeswoman for the city administration announced. The city cites hygiene concerns and concerns about an increased risk of transmission of infectious diseases to the donors as reasons.
According to the city administration, there are at least two public drinking water fountains in Halle. The city is already planning another drinking fountain in coordination with the public utilities. In addition, further possible locations for further drinking fountains are to be determined. According to a spokesman for the city administration, the existing infrastructure of the supply networks and the construction costs must be taken into account in addition to the demand. The costs also played a role in the consideration. “At least a four-digit to five-digit sum should be planned for the donors,” said the spokesman.
In the city center of Wernigerode there is also only one water dispenser. So far, no more are planned, said a spokeswoman for the city. However, there is a drinking fountain in almost all elementary schools in the city.
Also in Stendal one searches in vain for a public water dispenser. The city administration left unanswered the question of whether new ones should be built in the future. “Civil engineering work is required for the supply and disposal lines,” said a spokesman. The question also arises as to how the system can be protected from vandalism and contamination.
The left-wing faction in the state parliament recently accused the state government of being ill-prepared for the increasing heat waves. In the party’s view, better equipment would include drinking water dispensers in all public spaces in the medium term.