Real World NeedsEssential services directory
Directory
Drinking water and seasonal heat-relief services. Browse 12 reviewed listings and go directly to the organization or public source for current details.
Services can change. Check the original source or contact the organization before you travel. RWN shows where information came from and when it was last reviewed.
No-questions-asked meals plus clothing, hygiene items, sleeping essentials, and seasonal heat-relief water.
Free services
Check before you go. Meals are offered Monday through Saturday. Clothing inventory and seasonal relief vary; use the official service page for current details.
A multilingual solidarity map for nearby meals, drinking water, shelters, day centres, showers, laundry, clothing, health care, and administrative support.
Free to use
Check before you go. Coverage and schedules are updated by area. Open each listing for its current hours and contact instructions.
A nationwide finder for station missions offering immediate help without registration, including food, drink, clothing, first aid, a safe place, travel assistance, and local referrals.
Immediate help is free
Check before you go. Opening hours differ by station. Use the official finder to choose a location and check its current hours.
A global map of public fountains and participating businesses that provide free drinking-water refills.
Free water refills at listed spots
Check before you go. Some locations are community-contributed. Check recent details and ask staff before relying on a business refill point.
A free app connecting people with public taps and participating refill locations, including a large UK network.
Free tap-water refills at participating points
Check before you go. The app may prompt for an account after limited searches. Confirm that a participating location is open before travelling.
San Francisco's official map of free, tested drinking water and public restroom locations.
Free to search; provider rules vary
Check before you go. Public facilities may close temporarily for maintenance or operating conditions; check the live map.
Eau de Paris provides an interactive map of over 1,200 public drinking fountains and 1,500 partner establishments across Paris. The service allows anyone to find free, safe drinking water and refill their bottles to stay hydrated and reduce single-use plastic.
Free to use and fill bottles
Check before you go. Available to everyone in the city, including public fountains and partner establishments.
Los Angeles County provides a network of cooling centers to help residents escape extreme heat. These facilities offer safe, air-conditioned spaces with bathrooms and drinking water.
Free to use and open to all community members
Check before you go. Cooling Centers are open to the public during the hours listed, have functioning air conditioning, bathrooms, and drinking water, and are ADA accessible.
The Mayor of London and Thames Water have installed a network of over 100 drinking water fountains across the capital. The program provides free access to healthy tap water to reduce single-use plastic waste.
Free access to healthy tap water.
Check before you go. Fountains are located in busy and accessible areas across London, including stations, parks, and high streets. Subject to Thames Water programming and local authority commitments.
Cool It! NYC provides a map of drinking fountains, spray showers, and outdoor pools across New York City. It helps residents find places to stay cool and hydrate during the summer.
The service is free of charge to the public.
Check before you go. In general, spray showers are turned on when the temperature reaches 80 degrees or higher. Drinking fountains are turned on each year.
The Salvation Army's International Emergency Services (IES) provides critical relief, including food, water, and emergency shelter, to communities affected by disasters and conflict worldwide. The program supports local territories in disaster preparedness and response to meet immediate needs and build resilience.
The services are provided at no cost to individuals affected by disasters and conflict.
Check before you go. Services are deployed in response to disasters and conflicts globally, providing immediate relief and long-term recovery support.
Sydney Water provides a map of permanent water refill stations across Greater Sydney. The service allows anyone to easily find locations to refill their water bottles with safe, clean drinking water.
The water refill stations provide high-quality drinking water for free.
Check before you go. Permanent water refill stations located across Greater Sydney. Users should bring their own refillable bottle.