Drinking water fountain
in Karlsruhe
Cooling to go - free of charge and sustainable
Whether you're strolling through the city, visiting a playground, or going on a bike ride, Karlsruhe's 44 public drinking fountains offer you free access to fresh drinking water at any time, especially on hot days: free of charge, clean, and sustainable.
With currently 44 municipal drinking water fountains—and more on the way—Karlsruhe is setting a visible example for free access to drinking water, climate adaptation, and sustainable urban development. This puts the city in a good position in terms of public drinking water provision compared to other cities in Germany.
All locations
of drinking water fountains
The Liegenschaftsamt der Stadt Karlsruhe is responsible for the map content.
Frequently asked questions
-
As a general rule, you should only drink from fountains marked with a "drinking water" sign. All other fountains in the Karlsruhe city area are decorative and not intended for drinking water. The analysis results are evaluated in close consultation with the responsible district office so that appropriate measures can be taken immediately in the event of any abnormalities. In addition, all drinking fountains are regularly inspected visually and cleaned or disinfected as necessary.
Note: Please draw drinking water directly from the spout without touching the tap. First, make sure that the spout is clean and free of any abnormalities and that the fountain is in a hygienic condition that allows you to drink without concern.
-
Play water systems obtain their water from the drinking water supply, but the so-called "play water" itself is not suitable as drinking water. It is provided exclusively for play purposes and must not be used for drinking. Please note: Play water is not drinking water! As part of the general duty of care, random water quality tests are carried out. The facilities are regularly visually inspected and cleaned or disinfected if necessary.
-
Yes, it is expressly permitted to fill up drinking vessels you have brought with you. For reasons of hygiene, please ensure that the bottle opening does not touch the water outlet.
-
A broken fountain in Karlsruhe can be reported via the citizen hotline at 115 or via the online portal or the "KA-Feedback" app .
-
Many of Karlsruhe's drinking fountains can be used without assistance. However, some models make it somewhat difficult to draw water or can only be reached with a step - especially in the case of historic fountains. When installing new drinking fountains, special attention is therefore paid to barrier-free design so that everyone has access to fresh drinking water as independently as possible.
The installation of a barrier-free drinking fountain is currently planned as a pilot project at Fliederplatz in Karlsruhe Mühlburg - implementation will take place shortly.
-
In general, the drinking fountains and ornamental fountains in Karlsruhe are in operation from April to October. During the winter months, all fountains are turned off for safety and frost protection reasons.
-
Around half of the public drinking and ornamental fountains are operated by the Horticultural Office of the City of Karlsruhe. It is responsible for the maintenance, cleaning, upkeep and monitoring of water quality and ongoing operation.
Wells on state-owned land, for example at public authorities or universities, are the responsibility of the state, often represented by Vermögen und Bau Baden-Württemberg. For facilities in historic palace gardens, the State Palace Administration is responsible.
Why should you drink tap water from
?
-
The drinking water in Karlsruhe is characterized by its outstanding quality. It is free from contamination by unnatural substances and pollutants and complies with all the strict limits set out in the Drinking Water Ordinance. This makes Karlsruhe's drinking water an ideal thirst quencher for young and old alike.
-
The drinking water in Karlsruhe comes from four waterworks located in wooded areas around Karlsruhe. It is extracted from groundwater, which is naturally filtered as it passes through the gravel and sand layers of the Upper Rhine Plain and enriched with minerals (approx. 110 mg/l calcium and approx. 10 mg/l magnesium). It contains low levels of sodium and nitrate and does not need to be chlorinated.
In the case of Karlsruhe's drinking water, the entire process from extraction to distribution was designed in such a way that only very small amounts of greenhouse gases are produced.
What is the
Water Quarter in Karlsruhe?
The Wasser-Quartier Karlsruhe is one of the first water districts in Germany. It is operated bythe association a tip: tap e. V.in cooperation with Stadtwerke Karlsruhe, the city of Karlsruhe, and a diverse network of partners. It covers the entire city and aims to make tap water the main beverage in society, promote the drinking fountain culture, and increase appreciation for drinking water as a resource. Since its founding in 1715, supplying drinking water to its citizens has been one of the city's most important tasks. In addition, Karlsruhe isan important center for water research in Germanythanks tothe Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute (BAW),the Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering, the Institute for Applied Geosciences, the Engler-Bunte Institute of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), and theTechnology Center Water (TZW). It is home to the European Well Association, which is committed to the construction, maintenance, and preservation of wells and clean drinking water in countries of the Global South. In addition, Stadtwerke Karlsruhe sees itself not only as a mere water supplier, but also as a water ambassador.
About a tip: tap e. V.
a tip: tap e. V. (English: a tip: tap water) is a non-profit association that promotes tap water as a healthy drink and a socially just, climate-friendly, and environmentally friendly alternative to bottled water and sweetened beverages. The association works nationwide to raise awareness of the benefits of tap water. These include: resource and emission savings, high quality thanks to drinking water regulations, financial relief, and no transport costs for consumers. The association wantsto improveaccess to free drinking waterthroughout public spaces and in all areas of social life. The goal is a water revolution, i.e., less plastic waste, less CO₂, and better access to tap water for everyone.
Want to knowexactlyhow much money and CO₂you can save by switching to tap water?
Then use the drinking water calculator now!
A special fountain in Karlsruhe—
, the drinking fountain on Lidellplatz
The drinking fountain on Lidellplatz has been around for many years. As part of the UN Water Decade 2018-2028an initiative of the United Nations to promote the human right to water, climate protection and sustainable development, the fountain was recognized as an official project of the International Decade of Action "Water for Sustainable Development" and marked accordingly. This makes it a visible symbol of these important issues.
This page was created in close cooperation between KME Karlsruhe Marketing und Event GmbH and the Horticultural Office, the Real Estate Office, the Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety Department of the City of Karlsruhe, a tip: tap e. V., and Stadtwerke Karlsruhe GmbH.
As of February 2026.
