Public standpost
- Slovak term: Slovenský termín
- A public distribution point for a water supply (WHO et al. 2000).
Explanation
At a public standpost or tapstand, people from several households can take water from one or more taps. Because they are used by many people and are often not so well taken care of, their design and construction must be sturdy compared with domestic connections. The standpost includes a service connection to the supplying water conduit, a supporting column or wall, and one or more taps protruding far enough from this column or wall to enable easy filling of the water containers (WHO et al. 2000).
The taps can be a globe or a self-closing type. The column or wall may be of wood, brickwork, dry stone masonry, concrete, etc. Some standposts have a regulating valve in the connection to the mains, which can be set and locked to limit maximum flow. A water meter may also be included. A solid stone or concrete slab or apron under the tap and a drainage system must lead spilled water away and prevent the formation of muddy pools. A fence may be needed to keep cattle away. The location and design of public standposts have to be determined in close collaboration with the future users (WHO et al. 2000).
Example
“The water-supply agency should be deemed responsible for the safety and quality of the water supply up to a defined point in the distribution system, generally the house connection or public standpost.” (WHO et al. 2000).
