More Germs on Water Fountain or in Toilet Water? (2024)

A student experiment showed toilet water was cleaner than a fountain at school.

June 19, 2007 — -- Thirteen-year-old Kyleray Katherman never imagined a simple school project would garner him national fame, but it did.

What began as an English class assignment to write a persuasive paper turned into a full review of his middle school's decision to ban water bottles. Katherman studied the water in the school's water fountains and discovered it wasn't very clean … in fact, it wasn't even as clean as the water in the toilets.

His work went from the local paper all the way to Jay Leno's monologue.

"And a 13-year-old boy in an Oregon middle school has done a science experiment showing that the water in the lavatory toilets, the water in the toilets was cleaner than the water in the drinking fountains, to which every dog in America said, 'See!'" Leno joked on "The Tonight Show."

The experiment was Katherman's challenge to a policy at the North Bend Middle School in Oregon that banned water bottles after school officials discovered some students were using them to sneak in alcohol. The policy forced students to use the drinking fountains.

Katherman said today on "Good Morning America" that he believed students should have a choice between carrying a water bottle or using a fountain. And he had some suspicions about the cleanliness of the water.

Armed with cotton swabs and petri dishes, Katherman tested the bacteria content at four water fountains and one toilet, swabbing the fountains and their spigots.

"We put it into an incubator and the bacteria grew on the petri plate," Katherman said.

His results shocked everyone. The fountain water was swimming with bacteria while the bathroom toilet water was significantly cleaner.

The cleanest fountain was located in the fifth- and sixth-grade hallway, while the dirtiest was just outside the gym, Katherman said. But even the cleanest fountain wasn't as clean as the toilet.

"The toilet water is usually cleaner with regard to bacteria because toilets get continuously flushed, whereas a water fountain is left open to the environment," said Dr. Phillip Tierno of New York University Medical Center. "You know that toilets are occasionally washed, but I've never seen a water fountain sanitized at all."

The experiment resulted in an A-plus for Katherman.

More Germs on Water Fountain or in Toilet Water? (2024)

FAQs

More Germs on Water Fountain or in Toilet Water? ›

A student experiment showed toilet water was cleaner than a fountain at school.

Do water fountains have a lot of bacteria? ›

Besides the tap water being contaminated with chemicals and bacteria – the fountain itself is likely covered in germs! Drinking fountains are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria. The more people who come in contact with the public fountain – the more germs there are.

How sanitary are water fountains? ›

Water fountains at the airport, they found, harbor more than 50,000 times the bacteria of a toilet seat. They also found that shopping malls contain the dirtiest water fountains overall, featuring over 30 million colony-forming units (CFUs) of the type of bacteria than can be disease-causing.

Does toilet water have a lot of bacteria? ›

From the flush handle to the seat to the tank, your toilet bowl is a throne swarming with harmful bacteria and germs. On average, a toilet bowl contains 3.2 million bacteria per square inch*, including germs in toilet water.

Is the toilet water cleaner than tap water? ›

Toilet water is generally cleaner than tap water because it undergoes additional filtration and treatment processes. For example, toilet water is typically treated with chlorine, which helps to kill bacteria and other harmful microbes.

Are water fountains dirtier than toilets? ›

But even the cleanest fountain wasn't as clean as the toilet. "The toilet water is usually cleaner with regard to bacteria because toilets get continuously flushed, whereas a water fountain is left open to the environment," said Dr. Phillip Tierno of New York University Medical Center.

What are the disadvantages of a water fountain? ›

It can be hard to maintain. The biggest drawback of a water feature is the upkeep, especially if it's situated under messy trees, where leaves and petals and seeds can gunk up the water and clog the filter and pump.

Can you get an infection from toilet water splashing? ›

Even in the case that you do come into contact with a germ or virus, there has to be a fair amount of it for it to have any effect. If you sit on urine or get sprayed by toilet water as you flush — besides being completely revolted — there is a small chance of infection, just like any other bacteria in the washroom.

What has more germs than a toilet? ›

1. ICE: A study of fast food restaurants in the US found that 70% of the ice served had more bacteria than the toilet water. 2. KEYBOARDS: Keyboards can have up to 200 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.

How long do germs live in toilet water? ›

How long can these pesky germs survive? Hours. Germs aren't afraid to hang around, significant amounts of these bathroom bacteria survive for hours after each flush of a toilet and hours after a shower too. If your household bathroom is being used every few hours, the breeding ground is continually reset.

How dirty is flushed toilet water? ›

Water from the toilet bowl cannot back up into the tank which insures the water in the tank is just as clean as water from a faucet. Truth be told, if you clean the bowl and flush several times, even the water in the bowl will be clean.

Is it safe to drink tap water from the toilet? ›

It's possible that this water contains small amounts of dust and debris from the storage tank in your home. Therefore, while there's no harm in drinking water from a bathroom tap at home once in a while, it's much safer to drink water from your kitchen tap connected to the mains.

Is shower water as clean as tap water? ›

Is Chlorinated or Contaminated Water in Your Shower Water? The simple answer is YES. Shower water contains chlorine, bacteria, dissolved minerals, as well as, heavy metal. Depending on where you are located, the levels of chlorinated or contaminated water may vary.

Does mold grow on water fountains? ›

Mold spores landing in the fountain water or on damp surfaces can start to multiply, creating fuzzy patches of black or white mold. Left unchecked, this mold can spread to contaminate the fountain, releasing more spores into the air.

Do water fountains need to be cleaned? ›

And it's important to clean it with a disinfectant. Like any mechanical system, a water fountain requires scheduled service and cleaning to prevent downtime and increase its longevity. For example, loose particles can build up from residue over time. The entire unit must be cleaned every 6 months.

Can water grow bacteria in a water bottle? ›

According to Dr. Sumego, bacteria and mold thrive in moist environments, like the reusable water bottles many of us use every day. You often can't see the germs that may be growing inside your water bottle, and they could potentially cause you to experience symptoms similar to food poisoning.

Are fountains a waste of water? ›

Fountains may look nice in your yard, but unless they recirculate the water, they can waste over 300 gallons an hour. Outdoor water fountains also lose a lot of water through evaporation.

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