SFO installs water bottle refill stations

We all know the rule—no liquids past the security checkpoint except those in 3-1-1 bags and under 3 oz. 

But what about those of us who want to bring a bottle of water on board? Well, we can pay the $6,000 required at any of the shops past security for a small two gulp bottle or we can try, underline try, to find a water fountain. (Good luck.)

But SFO is changing that. They’ve begun to  install water bottle refilling stations throughout the airport past the security checkpoints. 

The airport hopes this will cut down on the number of plastic bottles thrown away and will encourage passengers to take the empty one through security and reuse them. 

Comments

[Matt]

I don't travel a lot but I'm always able to find a water fountain right by the restroom.

[Steve]

Yep, I never seem to have a problem finding a water fountain either.

[Till]

Even if there was no water fountain, there'd be a restroom.

[Mags]

As someone who likes to cut down on plastic waste by traveling with a refillable bottle, it can be difficult and awkward to refill the bottle from airport water fountains, which are made for drinking and not bottle-filling, and not to put too fine a point on it, sometimes the water is not the best-tasting stuff around. These refill points are great and I hope they catch on! Better than begging the people at McDonald's to refill my bottle (and then they hand me a cup of ice, eliminating the point of me bringing the dang bottle in the first place). Just wish they had an ice machine as well. ;-)

[Jim]

I've actually had my empty bottle taken by the TSA on two occasions. Both times they said that the bottle size was the problem (20 oz > 3 oz) regardless of whether or not it had anything in it. I guess 20 ounces of air is now banned as well...

[mtview]

Thank you for the info. It is very hard to fill my water bottle at the drinking fountain due the the angle. I can only filled it either 1/3 or 1/2 the way. I was about to give up on bringing my bottle for my next trip.

[forest]

It seems now days there is usually a soda dispenser at one of the vendors that you can get water.We buy a bottle on the first leg and use it for a while, then replace when necessary.

[Esther]

With restroom water, you have to worry if it's safe for drinking. It's not quite an issue in the US, but it can be problematic elsewhere.
I was refilling my bottle at the Eiffel Tower, when an employee told me the sink water wasn't suitable for drinking. That was a close call.

[Emily]

I think that water bottle refill stations in airports are a marvelous idea! I recently went on a spring break trip with my family, and we brought our reusable bottles with us, empty of course through security. We had to search to find a water fountain, and we all know how difficult it can be to entirely fill a bottle in a fountain! If there were filtered water stations placed around airports, filling up would be so much easier. Thanks for posting!