FOI - Water Fountains [Nov 2022]

You asked for: 
Please provide me with the following information over the last five financial years, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22

1. The number of Mayor of London/Thames Water fountains installed
2. The cost per water fountain to install
3. The annual cost of maintenance and repairs for the water fountains
4. Please also provide me with information on whether the current model is the only design that was offered or, if not, please provide me with information on the other possible designs for the water fountains.

Our response to your request is as follows: 

1. Over the last five financial years (2017/18 – 2021/22) the GLA has installed 111 water fountains in partnership with Thames Water. 
2. The GLA and Thames Water entered into a partnership and shared the costs of the water fountains and their installation. The water fountains were purchased through a procurement process led by Thames Water. The fountain unit costs are commercially sensitive. The fountain installation cost varies on a site-by-site basis depending on proximity to a water main, traffic management and reinstatement requirements, underground obstructions and other local factors. On average, the GLA has contributed between £4,800-£4,900 towards each fountain and their installation. 
3. As per the agreement with the GLA, Thames Water owns the assets (drinking fountains) and will fund the long-term maintenance and cleaning of the fountains for at least 25 years. 
4. The water fountains were purchased through a procurement process led by Thames Water. The procurement process undertaken included the requirement that the fountains were wheelchair accessible and accessible by both adults and children and by people of differing physical abilities. The fountain model installed is the Halsey Taylor Outdoor HydroBoost Bottle Filling Station Model 4400BF. This model was the only outdoor drinking fountain product that was WRAS (Water Regulation Approval Scheme) at the time the fountain procurement took place. No other fountain model was installed under the programme.