Case Study – Multi-Site Water Fountain Installation at a Melbourne University Campus
Large education campuses rely on safe, compliant and well-maintained hydration and safety infrastructure to support students, staff and visitors across multiple buildings.
McCarthy Plumbing Group was engaged to deliver a staged water fountain installation and replacement program across a Melbourne-based university, involving:
- Replacement of 41 drinking water fountains
- Replacement of 5 emergency safety showers
- Installation of 1 ice machine
The project spanned:
- 15 buildings
- 4 separate campus locations
Adding complexity, the existing infrastructure included multiple asset types, with a mix of:
- Five different Britex fountain models
- One Civiq/Aquafil fountain system
The key challenge was delivering a coordinated, compliant upgrade across multiple sites, while minimising disruption to campus operations.
Planning and Coordination
Given the scale and spread of the works, careful planning was critical to ensure efficient delivery.
Our team worked closely with the university’s facilities management team to:
- Identify and confirm asset locations across all buildings
- Assess existing connections and infrastructure requirements
- Coordinate access to occupied buildings and high-traffic areas
- Schedule works to minimise disruption to students and staff
A staged delivery approach was implemented to allow works to be completed systematically across all sites. We also completed the majority of the works in the Christmas holidays so there was a very small amount of staff and students on campus.
Managing Multiple Asset Types
The presence of multiple fountain models and configurations required careful consideration during installation.
Each fountain type had:
- Different connection requirements
- Mounting configurations
- Space constraints
- Integration requirements with existing services
Our team ensured that each installation was completed in accordance with manufacturer specifications and site conditions, maintaining consistency and quality across all locations.
Installation and Compliance
All works were carried out by licensed plumbers in accordance with relevant Australian Standards and site-specific requirements.
Scope of works included:
- Decommissioning and removal of existing fountains and fixtures
- Installation of new drinking water fountains
- Installation of emergency safety showers
- Installation and connection of ice machine services
- Testing and commissioning of all installed assets
Particular attention was given to:
- Ensuring safe and compliant connections to water services
- Maintaining hygiene and water quality standards
- Verifying correct operation of safety showers
- Confirming functionality of all installed units prior to handover
Working in an Active Campus Environment
All works were undertaken within live university environments, requiring careful coordination to ensure safety and minimise disruption.
This included:
- Working around class schedules and peak student movement
- Managing access in shared and public areas
- Maintaining safe work zones
- Communicating with site representatives throughout delivery
Our team adapted to site conditions to ensure works were completed efficiently while maintaining a safe environment for all campus users.
The Outcome
The project was successfully delivered across all four sites, achieving:
- Replacement of 41 drinking fountains across 15 buildings
- Installation of compliant emergency safety infrastructure
- Consistent asset performance across multiple campuses
- Minimal disruption to university operations
The facilities management team was provided with clear handover information and confirmation that all assets were installed, tested and operational.
Supporting Large-Scale Facilities and Campus Environments
McCarthy Plumbing Group has experience delivering plumbing works across complex, multi-building environments including education facilities, commercial portfolios and secure sites.
We understand the importance of:
- Coordinated delivery across multiple locations
- Working within live environments
- Managing diverse asset types
- Maintaining compliance and quality standards
- Clear communication with facilities management teams
A Workforce Built for Complex Environments
Our team is equipped to operate safely and efficiently across large-scale and compliance-driven sites.
All McCarthy Plumbing Group personnel hold:
- National Police Checks
- Working With Children Checks
- Construction Industry White Cards
Our workforce is also trained and certified in:
- Working Safely at Heights
- Elevated Work Platform (EWP) operation
- Drain operation and cleaning systems
- Advanced confined space entry
- Backflow prevention testing and servicing
- Thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) testing and servicing
We maintain contractor compliance through platforms including CM3 and Rapid Global, ensuring alignment with facilities management and institutional requirements.
Need Support Across Multiple Sites?
If you manage a campus, commercial portfolio or multi-site facility and require a plumbing contractor capable of delivering coordinated works across multiple locations, McCarthy Plumbing Group can assist.
Contact our team to discuss your facilities maintenance or upgrade requirements.