Water refill guide
Are water refill machines safe? A 30-second checklist
Most people fill a jug at a grocery store machine without a second thought, and most of the time it goes fine. But refill machines are maintained by whoever runs them, and you can't see inside. Here's what you can check, in about 30 seconds, and what the research says about the risks you can't see.
The 30-second check
Before you fill, look for:
- A clean fill area. No slime, mold, standing water or grime around the nozzle or drip tray.
- A working, intact machine. No cracked panels, no taped-over parts, no "out of order" sign.
- Someone responsible. An operator name, service phone number or service sticker on the machine.
- Normal water. It should look clear, have no odd smell, and flow steadily.
- No contact. You should be able to fill without your jug's opening touching the nozzle.
If any of these fail, skip it and try another station. Your city page lists the others nearby, and recent reviews and photos on each station's page can show what other people found.
What a filter label can and can't tell you
A sign saying "reverse osmosis," "purified" or "multi-stage" describes the equipment, not how well that particular machine is maintained today. A display showing a low TDS number tells you dissolved minerals are low. It can't tell you whether specific contaminants are present. See what TDS tells you.
What recent research found
In 2026, a University of Iowa-led team published a study of US water kiosks in Environmental Science & Technology. They tested water from 20 kiosks, made by 4 manufacturers, in 6 states.
- The good news: they found no evidence of microbial contamination. Most kiosks used reverse osmosis, which removed fluoride, residual disinfectant and PFAS ("forever chemicals").
- The concern: lead was detected in 15 of the 20 kiosks. Five were above the 1 µg/L level recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and one was above the EPA's 10 µg/L action level. The researchers linked it to corrosion of plumbing parts placed after the reverse osmosis step, including brass fittings. Those parts were sold as "lead-free," but reverse osmosis water is low in alkalinity and pH, which makes it more corrosive.
- What they recommend: replacing metal parts downstream of the reverse osmosis step and requiring routine testing of kiosk water. They describe kiosks as poorly regulated and sparingly monitored for quality.
This was 20 machines, not every machine in the country. But it's a good reason to prefer stations whose operators publish water testing, and to ask the operator if you're unsure.
If you're especially careful (babies, pregnancy, health conditions)
Talk to your doctor or your local health department about which water is right for you. If you want certainty about a specific machine, ask the operator for recent water test results.
Your jug matters too
A clean machine can't make up for a dirty container. Wash and dry your jug regularly, clean the cap and threads, and replace any jug that's cracked or deeply scratched. Here's how to clean and store your containers.
Find a refill station near you
- Denver · Colorado Springs · Austin · Tampa · Los Angeles · Albuquerque · All cities
- Learn about water types: reverse osmosis, alkaline, spring
- Cost: how much a 5-gallon refill costs
Found a dirty or broken machine? Leave a review or add a photo on the station's page so others know.
General information, not medical advice.