Seoul unveils 7 new water fountain designs for tumblers, wheelchairs, pets
Summary
Seoul Metropolitan Government has developed seven Seoul-style water fountain designs in Seoul to support tumbler refills and expand public drinking water access. The fountains include features for wheelchair users, children and pet owners, and were designed through citizen workshops and interdepartmental coordination. The city has installed the first unit at Seoul City Hall and plans to expand the fountains to parks, schools and government offices. It will also hold a Goodbye Plastic Seoul event at City Hall on Wednesday.
Key Facts
- The fountains dispense Arisu, Seoul’s tap water brand, and were created to cut single-use plastic consumption.
- The designs include three outdoor types and four indoor types.
- Safety and accessibility features include removal of floor-level steps, open space underneath, burn prevention and tactile buttons with minimal pressure.
- Seoul plans to release design guidelines this month and support public and private organizations that want to install the standardized fountains.
A "Seoul-style water fountain" installed in the lobby of Seoul City Hall's main building / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has developed seven types of "Seoul-style water fountains" designed for refilling personal tumblers, along with features for wheelchair users, children and pet owners, as part of an effort to cut single-use plastic consumption and expand access to public drinking water.
The fountains, which dispense Arisu, Seoul's tap water brand, were developed through a process involving citizen workshops and coordination among city departments, the city said. The designs incorporate universal design principles, removing floor-level steps and creating open space underneath so wheelchair users and children can approach the fountains directly. Safety features include a structure to prevent burns from hot water and tactile buttons that can be operated with minimal pressure.
The fountains come in three outdoor types — for refilling tumblers, an expanded refill version and a pet-friendly design — and four indoor types, including a version sized for younger children and one built into a wall. A dedicated nozzle holds tumblers steady for faster refills, and an internal drainage structure keeps water from spilling outside the unit.
The city has installed its first unit in the lobby of Seoul City Hall's main building. It plans to release design guidelines this month and gradually expand the fountains to parks, schools and government offices, both at new sites and where aging fountains need replacement. Seoul also said it will support public and private organizations that want to install the fountains using the standardized designs.
The city will hold an event called "Goodbye Plastic Seoul" at City Hall's main lobby from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, marking Resource Circulation Day, observed annually Sept. 6. Visitors who bring a tumbler to refill with Arisu water and take part in the event will receive fountain-branded merchandise, including a tumbler, a keyring and a natural scrubbing sponge, while supplies last.
"We hope Seoul's new public drinking fountains will become an essential component of civic infrastructure, encouraging tumbler use while offering convenient access for children, people with disabilities, and pet owners alike," said Choi In-kyu, director general of the Design Policy Bureau at the Seoul Metropolitan Government. "By expanding these fountains across parks, schools, and government facilities citywide, we aim to build an inclusive and sustainable public drinking environment."
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
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