Mainz bubbles: New drinking fountain for citizens and the environment back!

Mainz bubbles: New drinking fountain for citizens and the environment back!

The city of Mainz has announced the restart of its drinking fountains in the city center. In the current initiative, three drinking water fountains in central locations are now bubbling in the city, while another fountain was installed for the first time in the Mainz-Bretzenheim district. This fountain is located in the immediate vicinity of the final stop of the tram line 52 and was inaugurated on March 21, 2025. But the history of this drinking water fountain goes back to 2018 when the ÖDP demanded a heat action plan to meet the increasing need for public drinking water in urban areas.

The city of Mainz thus pursues a sustainable strategy that is underpinned by the recommendations of experts. These speak out to increase the number of public drinking water columns in Germany in order to better supply citizens in heat waves. In August 2019, the city council decided to install at least ten drinking water dispensers in the city center. The first water dispenser on the Rebstockplatz was put back into operation in August 2023. Two more fountains followed: one in June 2024 on Bahnhofstrasse and another in August 2024 on the Cardinal Volk-Platz.

hygiene and maintenance of the wells

The city's green and environmental agency is responsible for the hygienic standards of public drinking water fountains. These are regularly checked for their hygiene and dismantled in the winter months to avoid frost damage. The new fountain in Bretzenheim, which was installed with a financial effort of 12,500 euros, has annual operating costs of around 2,500 euros. The Mainz-Bretzenheim sustainability initiative was able to contribute 10,000 euros to finance the well.

Environmental director Janina Steinkrüger (Greens) opened the new fountain and emphasized the importance of such facilities for climate adjustment in city centers. The first sip from the fountain demonstrated the city's commitment to sustainable water supply. While the old water dispenser was dismantled because it was considered to be economically inefficient, the city continues to work to improve the infrastructure for drinking water.

Refill initiatives and urban plans

In addition to the fountains, there are now 36 shops in Mainz that fill up free drinking bottles, a service that is identified by the "Refill" label. This initiative offers the residents and visitors of the city a practical alternative to the drinking fountain. Mayor Brian Huck (Greens) at the same time demands that more public drinking water dispensers are installed in the districts in order to meet the need. The decision about the locations of the fountain depends on the practical meaningfulness and the existing infrastructures.

The vineyard and other central points in Mainz are not only a sign of the return of public water supply, but also a step towards environmentally conscious urban planning. In the future, the city has provided further financial means for installing additional fountains in the budget. Mainz is on the way to better climatic adaptation and a more sustainable water supply for your citizens.