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More and more individuals and businesses are choosing to install filtering water coolers. However, not all appliances on the market are created equal. To help you choose the best fountain and the system best suited to your needs, we compare the different alternatives for you in this article.
If you are looking for an effective, economical and environmentally-friendly solution for improving the quality of your tap waterLaFontaine is one of the best options on the market.
Thanks to its innovative, natural UV-A purification technology, the LAVIE filtering fountain gives you pure, healthy water, free from chlorine, bacteria, viruses and traces of pesticides. And all that, no filters to change and no recurring costs. Find out more in this article!
There are several types of water cooler for individuals or businesses. To help you make the right choice for your budget and your needs, here's a list of the most popular products. comparative table of the main solutions :
| Criteria | Fountain with carboy | Fountain on network | 
LaFontaine by LAVIE |
| Filtration method | None (bottled water) | Conventional filtration (carbon) | UV-A purification |
| Water quality | 💧 | 💧💧 | 💧💧💧 |
| Elements treated | Pre-treated water, but bacteria that spread rapidly through the distribution circuit. | Chlorine Sediment, but bacteria that spread rapidly through the distribution circuit. | Chlorine Bacteria Viruses Traces of pesticides Traces of medicines |
| Installation | ✅ Easy | ❌ Complex (connection to the water network) | ✅ Easy (plug into a socket) |
| Environmental impact | ❌ High (plastic cylinder) | 🟠 Medium (filters to be replaced regularly, not recyclable) | ✅ Very low (no plastic waste, low electricity consumption) |
| Initial cost | € | €€ | €€ |
| Cost of consumables | €€€ (Water bottles) | €€ (Filters to be changed) | None at all! |
| Discover |
Let's take a look at the different types of fountain on the market. Depending on your needs, you could opt for a plastic fountain, a network filtering fountain or a UV-A filtering fountain.
Operating mechanically, the principle behind these fountains is simple: the water is stored in a plastic water tank placed on top, and the water is then pumped into the fountain. flows by gravity.
The main disadvantage of these fountains is the storage and replacement of cylinders. As well as being heavy to handle and impractical, they are made of plastic, which generates highly polluting waste.
Although the purchase price of these fountains may seem more attractive than other appliances, the bottles will have to be replaced constantly, which generates a cost of about much higher cumulative price to other filtering systems.
Finally, there is the question of water quality. L'water in the carboy remains stagnant for several days, or even several weeks, which presents a high risk of bacterial growth.
This range of fountains provides constant supply of tempered waterSome models can also offer fresh water if they are electrically connected. They often have a double tap so you can choose between fresh and tempered water.
Network fountains require a direct connection to a water supply. Installation requires the help of a professional.
Depending on the filtration system used (activated carbon, magnetic filtration, ceramic, etc.), these machines will improve water quality to a greater or lesser extent by eliminating certain contaminants (chlorine, heavy metals, pesticides, etc.). However, it will be necessary to change filters regularlyThis generates waste that cannot always be recycled, as well as an additional recurring cost. What's more, bacteria can grow rapidly because of the lack of chlorine in the pipes and buffer tanks.
La LaFontaine filtering water fountain from LAVIE offers a completely different filtration solution: UV-A technology.
The principle is simple: LEDs produce UV-A rays which trigger the chlorine photolysisa natural reaction that clears your tap water chlorine, bacteria, viruses, and even certain pesticides and traces of medicines.
The advantage? LAVIE fountains maintenance-free and are fully operational without filter. So there's no risk of bacterial proliferation if the filter isn't changed often enough, and no recurring costs for you. What's more, the glass reservoir is treated with UV-A light each time it's refilled, ensuring total health safety. Discover our LaFontaine product now and offer pure water to your family or colleagues!
Compared to other solutions such as filter carafes, bottled water or home osmosis systems, the filter fountain is a practical, economical and sustainable alternative. Compare our product LaFontaine to the other common options.
La carafe filter is simple to use, inexpensive to buy and easy to handle. However, it does have a number of limitations: a small capacity, a slow and impractical gravity filtration method, and the need to replace cartridges regularly. The ecological impact of Brita decanters is significant because of the disposable filters, which have to be changed every 3 to 4 weeks and cannot be recycled.
See our full review of the carafe filter.
The LAVIE water cooler has a capacity of 5 litres, far greater than that of carafes (1 litre on average). Its UV-A purification method is also more efficient, healthier and more environmentally friendly.
Rather than investing in a tap water filterBut isn't it simpler and healthier to buy bottled water directly?
The answer is... no! Like fountains with carboys, the plastic bottles generate highly polluting waste. When you drink it, the water contains high levels of microplastics and nanoplastics, which are not recommended for your health (not to mention the recent scandals involving so-called "mineral and natural" waters)!
Thanks to the UV-A filtrationyou can obtain a a level of purity comparable to mineral waterwith no plastic waste. So why deprive yourself?
L'reverse osmosis is an advanced filtration method capable of removing almost all undesirable elements from water. However, this effective system has a number of drawbacks: it is expensive to buy and maintain, complex to install, and a large quantity of polluted water is rejected during the filtration process (up to 4 litres for 1 litre of purified water!).
La filtering water cooler offers a good compromise: effective purification, with no waste water, no filters to change, and simple installation (all you have to do is plug the appliance into an outlet). UV-A also preserves minerals naturally present in water and beneficial to our health, unlike osmosis, which eliminates them.
That's the first question! If from more and more individuals choose to equip themselves with a water cooler for the homeThis is of course so that you can take advantage of a greater quantity of quality water than is available in bottles or jugs (water coolers generally have a capacity of 1,000 litres). 5 to 12 litre capacity).
But in the realm of water fountains, the filtering fountain has a special place in it for the following reasons:
A filtering water cooler is much more than just a dispenser. It represents the bridge between the need for healthy water consumption and the desire for a healthy lifestyle. sustainable lifestyle.
There are many economic advantages to owning a filtering water cooler:
Reduced costs associated with the purchase of bottled water
If you consider the price of a bottle of water compared with tap water, the difference is significant. In the long term, filtering tap water via a fountain is much cheaper than buying bottled water on a regular basis.
With a price of €0.003 per litre, Tap water costs between 100 and 300 times less than bottled water!
Lower expenditure on replacing household appliances
Filtered water is much less likely to cause damage or loss of quality. scaling appliances such as kettles, coffee machines and irons (maintenance reduced by a factor of around 2).
Less waste
By not buying bottled water, you reduce the waste associated with non-recycled bottles and the costs associated with waste management. Did you know that 25 million plastic bottles are used every day in France? (Source: Tap water, bottled water: the match-up)
While all fountains have their advantages and disadvantages, the product LaFontaine is the most efficient, ecological and economical solution.
Its innovative, natural purification method using UV-A radiation gives you pure water, no filters to change regularly.
The benefits of purified water by LAVIE :
💧 The taste and smell of chlorine are eliminated
💧 Traces of pesticides are eliminated
💧 Bacteria are neutralised at 100%
💧 Drug residues are destroyed, as are many endocrine disruptors
💧 Trace elements are preserved
So whether you're a individual concerned about his or her health and that of his or her family, or a company to guarantee the well-being of its employees while making savings, don't wait any longer to discover the LaFontaine filtering fountain!
La UV-A technology. is now the most effective and economical method of improving water quality. It naturally purifies tap water, without using filters or consumables.
The LAVIE purifiers and the LaFontaine filtering fountain use this process to eliminate chlorine, bacteria and pesticide and drug residues. Its low ecological impact makes it the most sustainable and environmentally-friendly solution, compared with conventional filter solutions (osmosis, carafe filter, etc.).
Yes, as long as the filtration method is reliable! Filtration using UV-A or quality activated carbon improves taste and eliminates contaminants of tap water, while preserving its essential minerals. It's a healthy, safe and economical alternative to bottled water.
Make sure that the filtration system is adapted to the quality of the water you wish to filter. Some models offer ultra-fine filtration, while others have several filtration stages.
Thanks to the power of magnetsThis system is supposed to prevent the formation of limescale. Unfortunately, it rarely works, and there is no clear explanation as to why.
The secret lies in the ultra-fine ceramic filter. Capable of filtering heavy metals and particlesThis system, when coupled with a carbon filterIt eliminates chlorine and pesticides, ensuring better quality water.
If these filters are effective against bacteria and suspended particles, they can clog up quicklyrequiring frequent cleaning and replacement.
Le activated carbon is one of the most common filters. It effectively traps impurities and contaminants. If it can remove chlorine, bad tastes, odours and other particles, it will be ineffective against PFAS.
A new type of water cooler has recently emerged that doesn't require a water filter to purify your tap water. This type of fountain uses a UV-A radiation (the same type as the sun's rays).
The UV-A rays produced by LEDs trigger a chemical reaction that will rid your tap water of the chlorineand bacteria or certain pesticides.
The big advantage of these UV-A filtering fountains is that they only require very low maintenance so you don't have to change your filters regularly!
If your municipality is polluted by Pfas, it is nevertheless useful to add the Opropre under-sink pre-filtration.
Article updated on 31/08/2025 by Pascal Nuti - CIO Solable - Passionate about energy, I'm constantly on the lookout for new targets for improvement, exploring cross-disciplinary paths using novel methods.
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