Can soda fountains be recommended in hospitals?
Chaberny, I.F., Kaiser, P. and Sonntag, H.G. (2006) International Journal of Hygiene & Environmental Health, 209 (5); 471-5. Mineral water (soda water) is especially popular in Germany . In hospitals patients have the choice between non-carbonated and carbonated water. Hospitals relied on the German deposit bottle system for a long time however due to numerous disadvantages soda fountains were developed as an alternative. The soda fountain is directly attached to the potable water supply and produces carbonated potable water by adding carbon dioxide from Co 2 bottles; it is also equipped with a cooling system. In 1998, a microbiological examination of one of these systems was undertaken at the University Hospital of Heidelberg over 320 days. The soda fountain complied with the technical safety rules of the German regulation. The fountain was directly connected to the domestic water supply system and contained a charcoal filter to prevent the device from calcifying. A carbon dioxide car
