Drinking water fountain
in Karlsruhe
Cooling to go - free of charge and sustainable
Whether it's a stroll through the city, a playground or a bike tour - Karlsruhe's public drinking water fountains offer you free access to fresh drinking water at any time, especially on hot days: free, clean and sustainable.
Throughout Karlsruhe, there are 44 public drinking fountains operated by the city - and the trend is rising. This makes Karlsruhe the city with the most public drinking fountains in Germany after Berlin! The fountains make the city more sustainable, more social and more liveable.
All locations
The Liegenschaftsamt der Stadt Karlsruhe is responsible for the map content.
Frequently asked questions
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As a general rule, you should only drink from fountains that are marked with the "drinking water" sign. All other fountains in the city are decorative fountains and are not intended for consumption. The analysis results are evaluated in close coordination 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 visually inspected and cleaned or disinfected if necessary.
The public water features on the market square and at the main south entrance to the main railway station are also checked and sampled several times during the season to ensure safe operation.
Note: When using the fountain, please assess for yourself whether the hygienic condition allows safe drinking.
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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.
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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.
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A defective fountain can be reported via the citizens' telephone number 115 or via the online portal or the KA-Feedback" app can be reported.
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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.
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In general, the drinking and ornamental fountains are in operation from April to October. In the winter months, all fountains are switched off for safety and frost protection reasons.
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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
tap water?
The Karlsruhe Water Quarter
The Karlsruhe Water Quarter is one of the first water districts in the whole of Germany. It is run by the 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 drink in society, promote the drinking fountain culture and increase appreciation for drinking water as a resource. Since its foundation in 1715, supplying citizens with drinking water has been one of the city's most important tasks. Karlsruhe is also an important center of water research in Germany thanks to the Federal Institute of Hydraulic Engineering (BAW), the Institute for Water and Environment, the Institute for Applied Geosciences, the Engler-Bunte Institute of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the Water Technology Center (TZW). The European Well Society, which is committed to the construction, maintenance and preservation of wells and clean drinking water in countries of the Global South, is based here. Furthermore, 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. is a non-profit association that campaigns for tap water as a healthy drink and a socially just, climate and environmentally friendly alternative to bottled water and soft drinks. The association works nationwide to raise awareness of the benefits of tap water. These are: Resource and emission savings, high quality due to the Drinking Water Ordinance, financial relief and no transportation costs for consumers*. The association wants to improve access to free drinking water across the board in public spaces and in all areas of social life. The aim is a water transition, i.e. less plastic waste, less CO₂ and better access to tap water for everyone.
Want to know exactly how much money & CO₂ you can save by switching to tap water? Then use the drinking water calculator now!
A special fountain -
the drinking fountain at 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 the KME, the Horticultural Office, the Property Office, the Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety Department of the City of Karlsruhe and a tip: tap e. V..
Status: August 2025.
