With the amount of water each person should be drinking, the taste and crispness of that water should be regarded as extremely important to our lives. The differing minerals found in water mean that no two waters are alike. On campus, the difference is astonishingly noticeable, with each building’s water fountains having distinct flavors. In the past, students have taken campus water and its quality seriously, such as via the @waterofvandy Instagram account. To continue the long-standing legacy and to honor water’s pH, I found and ranked the seven best water fountains on the entirety of Vanderbilt’s campus based on taste, crispness and temperature.

7. Central Library, stairwell outside floor 7

The Central Library stairwell contains the strangest water fountains that likely anyone has ever seen. Each floor houses a different kind, yet they all look similarly ancient and produce the same unusual, loud noises. At first glance, the seventh-floor fountain looks like it may not even have potable water. A taste, however, reveals the coldest water on campus with a satisfactory taste. In fact, the water is so cold that any shortcomings in taste are not even noticeable as your mouth freezes, which some may appreciate.

6. Buttrick Hall, floor 3

There is nothing special to say about the appearance of Buttrick Hall’s water fountains. None of the fountains in Buttrick are noticeably better than the others, but the floor 3 fountain provides some of the crispest water around. While limited in its ranking based on the slightly warmer-than-desired temperature of the water, the taste may just be the best at Vanderbilt. Its closest comparison is the bottled water sold at Munchie Marts.

5. Stevenson 4, outside the bathrooms near the blue wall

The Stevenson Center as a whole has high-quality water in most of its buildings. A standout, though, is located just past the library in Stevenson 4. While water fountains near bathrooms always seem a little worrisome, this one delivers on its goal of cold, tasty water. With a very neutral flavor profile, this water can satisfy everyone. 

4. Wilson Hall, floor 1 by the elevator

Outside the bathrooms by the elevator is a water fountain with average water. By comparison to other water on campus, however, being average places it among the top four. Its water tastes crisp and high-quality at a temperature cold enough to be refreshing without making it difficult to drink.

3. Furman Hall, floor 1 to the right of the stairs

Two roads diverge at the top of the Furman stairs. To the left stands a new fountain that looks appealing and clean, but to the right sits the unsung hero of Furman water. The road less taken, or the old, beat-up fountain, serves crisp and cold water better than the vast majority of locations on campus. Greatly refreshing with the perfect amount of metallic flavor, it is hard to find anything that can beat this water.

2. Stevenson 6, outside room 6206 by the clock

Requiring a slight detour for most people, this fountain offers cold water in a strange hallway. Despite the many chemicals surrounding the area for the Stevenson classrooms, the water tastes clean and refreshing. The water pressure is perfect, meaning the fountain is able to efficiently yet nonaggressively hydrate its drinkers. The long quest to arrive at this fountain is well worth the time and effort.

1. Wilson Hall, outside room 610 at the end of the hall

Another fountain off the beaten path, the water at the very top of Wilson Hall provides the absolute crispest and most refreshing available on campus. The unique design of the fountain requires you to insert your head into a cubby in the wall to access it, in case privacy is a concern in your water-drinking endeavors. The water pressure is also strong enough to ensure you do not have to risk touching the germ-covered spout of the fountain. Most importantly, the water is ice-cold, tastes clean and could rival even the finest of bottled water. With great water comes great responsibility, and this fountain takes both seriously.