In the asphalt-melting heat, we especially appreciate public drinking fountains that provide thirst-quenching relief as we are out and about in the streets of Budapest. Luckily, a smart Hungarian-made device was developed a few years ago that enables ordinary fire hydrants citywide to be transformed into instant drinking fountains without compromising the water stations’ original function, and thanks to a comprehensive online map, now it’s even easier to find these refreshment spots all around the Magyar metropolis.

As an ever-increasing number of fire hydrants are turning into deftly adapted drinking fountains across Budapest during the summer months, this handy map can be a lifesaver for anyone who wants to find the closest refreshment stations with free-flowing water. The map shows all of the fire hydrants citywide that were enhanced with a smart device developed by the Hungarian Ivócsap Projekt (“ReHydrant Project” in English) – after pushing the button on the blue attachment on the fire hydrants, water starts spouting from the cylindrical appliance for 15 seconds, enabling us to drink straight from the tap or to fill our bottles. This simple innovation can turn any Hungarian hydrant into a drinking fountain within a few seconds – without detracting from their primary fire-safety function.

Using the new online map function of kozkutak.hu, urban dwellers can easily locate the nearest fire hydrants that are transferred into sipping stations, while many of Budapest’s landmarks and hangouts are also displayed on the map to provide convenient guidance to these environmentally friendly liquid assets.