If someone sneezes/coughs on it after using the water fountain, and you're next, what do you do?

I’m going to not use the bubbler. There is probably a less toxic one not that far away.

I use water bottles from home. I just about never use drinking fountains. As far as your question goes, what difference does it make, really? It comes down to you were freaked out because you watched someone do something disturbing and possibly infectious… but here’s the thing.

What if someone sneezed on it and left just before you walked in? Would you still be as upset? Probably not, because you’d never know. That’s the chance you take with public drinking fountains.

@snowberry That is true. But if I see it done, I can at least avoid those germs.
Yes, I would avoid that water fountain.

I use public drinking fountains but I wouldn’t use one that I’d seen someone sneeze on.

Flush the nozzle and valve with water, Let it run for a second, then drink. And raz the previous drinker!

I haven’t used a drinking fountain in decades.

I would avoid it. First of all, that’s disgusting. Second of all, why risk getting sick?

Are they sneezing on it? Or, just after using it away from it? If they sneeze in it I’ll go thirsty. If it’s after, I’ll try not to use my hand to push the button for the water.

I use fountains all the time. I live in a place with very few children around though. Kids are more likely to touch where the water comes out and contaminate it.

Turn off the water and then cleanse it with fire, turn the water back on and partake.

Depending on how thirsty I am. The biggest thing is, I assume that many people have done unsanitary things on, or around all water fountains. So, seeing it, doesn’t change much of my thoughts on water fountans.

I generally avoid them, all together. Our summers are no joke though, so I have definitely drank from them before.

Thanks everyone.

@snowberry About carrying a bottle of water at all times, sometimes you have to refill before you get to where you’re going though.

What do you call the part of the fountain or faucet that the water touches before it’s in the hand bottle etc.?

I’d probably wipe off the fountain, but I’d use it. I’m just not freaked out by germs.

^^ I looked up the part on a website that carries parts to repair drinking fountains. I think it’s called a bubbler, but there are parts to that, depending on what sort of effect you want. http://www.drinkingfountaindoctor.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Bubbler

I loath the bottled water fad.

@flo What to call the part? Nozzle.

@snowberry and @kritiper thank you. I was asking because some people touch the part the faucet where water passes through (the meshy part in the following image)
https://tinyurl.com/y8kzrt4t not the ousidepart (the Aerator)