Wetlook World Forum

Fountains might be for any or all of several purposes: something nice to look at, something for people to splash around in, and sometimes, part of a building's cooling system.

If a fountain is intended for people to splash around in (like those sidewalk fountains people can stroll through), I think one could assume the water will be safe - clean and not overly chlorinated.

If a fountain is being used as part of a cooling system, I think one can assume the water won't be contaminated, but could be heavily treated with chlorine or other chemicals. Unlikely to be a health hazard - it is after all open to the environment.However, whatever is in the water could be more of an irritant than you'd find in a swimming pool.

Fountains "just for show" could have anything in the water. Obviously, the water has to be treated/filtered to keep the pumps etc. from clogging up, but beyond that, there's no way to be sure what may be lurking.

It's a certainty that public outdoor fountains are going to be contaminated by people, pets, urban wildlife, and whatever the winds might carry. It doesn't surprise me that they would be more heavily chlorinated than a swimming pool.

If you see a fountain with a lot of "gunk" in it, perhaps it's not being adequately maintained, and it might be a clue to poor water quality. Just because other people are frolicking in it doesn't mean it's safe - those other people may not be any more aware of the hazards than you are.