Semi-related: I went to the gym a month ago, and that block was undergoing a power outage. I tried to drink from the (refrigerated) water fountain, but it didn't work! That model is inoperative when power is out.

Huh? You'd think a water fountain would just keep working without electricity, because all it has to do is let water flow from the plumbing, which continues to work? And it just wouldn't cool the water anymore? But no, that design doesn't have a fallback; it needs electricity even for normal water dispensing!