If you’ve ever stopped for a drink at a public fountain and found yourself lingering for a moment - reading a message, noticing a design detail, or taking in your surroundings - you’ve already experienced the quiet magic of an engaging public amenity.
It’s easy to underestimate how much these small moments contribute to the way people interact with shared spaces. But the science behind it is fascinating, and it’s shaping how councils, planners and designers think about water access in parks, playgrounds and walkways.
1. When More of the Senses Are Engaged, the Experience Sticks
When someone takes a sip of water, they’re already physically engaged. Add a visual prompt - like a story about the area, a sustainability message, or a simple reminder to refill - and suddenly it becomes a multisensory moment.
Cognitive research shows that when we layer movement, visuals and small emotional cues together, the experience becomes far more memorable. That’s why interactive amenities tend to have such a positive ripple effect: people remember them, talk about them, and come back to them.
2. Feeling Good = Coming Back
There’s a reason a cold drink on a hot day feels like bliss. Hydration itself triggers a tiny dopamine lift. When that good feeling is paired with something positive - like a message that makes you smile or something interesting to read - it forms a subtle habit loop.
People start to associate that fountain with feeling good. And where positive feelings are created, repeat use naturally follows.
3. Amenities That Tell a Story Create Connection
Public spaces feel more meaningful when they reflect the community around them. A short story about local history, an environmental message, even a simple “Welcome to…” sign can shift a standard drinking moment into something that feels personal.
These touches help people feel anchored to a place - and when people feel connected, they’re more likely to respect and care for the amenities around them. Talk to us about your next Green Spaces project.
4. Static Signs Don’t Do What Interactive Moments Can
A poster or board on a wall is easy to gloss over. But a message placed right where someone naturally pauses - like a drinking station - is far more effective.
At a fountain, you already have someone’s attention. They’ve stopped, they’re present, and they’re looking directly at the infrastructure in front of them. That’s a rare opportunity for genuine engagement.
5. Hydration Is Public Health
We all know the physical benefits of drinking more water, but there’s also a wellbeing angle. Even light hydration boosts mood, focus and cognitive function. When you pair that with uplifting or informative content, you’re creating a small moment of positivity in someone’s day. Multiply that by hundreds or thousands of uses across a year, and the impact becomes significant.
So What Does All of This Mean for Public Drinking Fountains?
It means the most effective amenities aren’t just functional - they’re engaging. They draw people in, they communicate something meaningful, and they quietly support healthier, more connected communities.
It’s exactly this thinking that inspired the design of our Modulus fountain: a robust, modular unit that allows councils and designers to integrate bottle filling, drinking access and custom signage in one streamlined structure. Whether it’s a sustainability message, a local story, or simply a bright visual to bring a space to life, the Modulus was built to make these small, powerful moments easy to create.
If you’re planning a park upgrade, a new playground or a community walkway, it’s worth considering how much impact an engaging hydration point can have. Sometimes the simplest ideas leave the biggest impression.
Explore our Modulus fountain now by clicking here.