How to Splash Your Face in Public for Free

 A love–hate story of India’s most awkward water fountains

If you’ve been to an Indian airport or a movie theatre you’ve seen them. Those awkward metal taps where you’re supposed to bend down open your mouth and drink like some desperate pigeon. Every time I use one I usually lose half my T-shirt.

I hate them. I think everyone hates them. And yet here they are proudly installed in some of the most “modern” places we go.

But where did this idea even come from and why on earth are we still using it?

A Western Hand-Me-Down

The whole drinking fountain drama started in the West around the late 1800s. Before that people actually drank from shared glasses. One cup many mouths. The fountain was supposed to be an upgrade. The idea was simple give people a quick way to sip water in public without needing cups. For a while it worked. Cities had fountains in parks schools offices.

But eventually the West realized these things weren’t practical. Hygiene issues water wastage bottle culture and just plain inconvenience meant they slowly disappeared. By the time paper cups bottled water and refill stations became common fountains were more or less extinct.

India’s Late Adoption (and Stubborn Love)

Here’s the stupid part. India picked them up much later when disposable cups were already a thing. Airports and theatres proudly copied the concept maybe because it felt modern and international.

Fast forward to today. The West has ditched them but we’re still building brand new malls and multiplexes with these relics. It’s like we imported the idea forgot the expiry date and decided to keep it forever.

The Paper Cup Paradox

Here’s where it gets truly absurd. At a PVR recently they handed out paper cups. Good start right. But the water source? The same pigeon fountain.

So there I was holding a cup trying to catch a sideways stream of water like it was some sad Olympic sport. A little in the cup a little on my hand and a lot wasted straight into the drain. Why not just keep normal filters with taps. Everyone would be happy hydrated and dry. But no the fountain stays like a stubborn relic nobody asked for.

Bonus Absurdity: The “Kids Fountain”

Some places even install a tiny fountain at child height as if kids are going to gracefully sip from it. Bro it’s hard enough for me a grown adult to drink without spraying my face (I actually saw many kids drinking better than me but still). Expecting a 7 year old to nail that water stream forget it. They either miss splash or end up basically showering. Parents don’t need hydration drama they just need a simple tap.

Why Do We Still Have Them?

Because apparently they’re cheap. No cups no staff just a pipe that spits water. Simple math right. Except the math ignores the fact that nobody enjoys using them.

Another sneaky reason you can’t really fill a bottle with these things. So airports and theatres get to keep selling overpriced water bottles. Smart for them annoying for us.

And then there’s our classic copy paste habit. The West moved on years ago but we’re still proudly keeping the relics alive.

The Problems Are Obvious

First water wastage. You bend you sip and half of it just dribbles away into the drain. Great if you’re trying to water the tiles not so much if you’re thirsty.

Then comes the posture. Drinking from these things feels like you’re auditioning for a yoga pose you never signed up for. Bend too much and you splash your face. Bend too little and the water goes up your nose.

And hygiene let’s not even go there. Dozens of strangers leaning in their mouths hovering just inches from where yours will be. The thought alone is thirst killing.

Bottom line nobody likes them. When people would rather stay thirsty than drink free water the design has failed spectacularly.

Time to Retire Them

It’s 2025 we’ve got filters bottle refilling stations eco friendly cups. Nobody needs to bend like a contortionist for a sip of water anymore.

So dear airports and multiplexes please. Retire these outdated water fountains and give us something practical. Trust me the audience will thank you.

Until then I’ll be the guy competing with his friends on who drinks from it better and losing half my T-shirt in the process.

Okay, rant over. Now tell me… do you hate them too, or am I just dramatic?

P.S. Sorry for those AI generated Pictures :(