Plzeň fountains will come alive after winter, the city's annual cost for their operation is 700,000 CZK

Plzeň - After several months of winter break, the fountains, drinking fountains, and other water features in Plzeň will return to full operation. They will start pouring water on May 1st. Before the new season, maintenance is being carried out. The city organization responsible for their care is the Public Property Administration of the City of Plzeň (SVSMP). The most complex is the restart of three gilded fountains in the Republic Square and the fountain in front of the West Bohemian Museum. Annually, the city hall allocates over 700,000 crowns for the maintenance and operation of water features, said the mayor Roman Zarzycký (ANO) today to ČTK.

Last year, the city completed the repair of the oval fountain in front of the West Bohemian Museum for 8.7 million crowns, which features nearly two hundred jets - the largest fountain in the park circuit. "Fountains and water features bring joy to the people of Plzeň, tourists, and children. Therefore, we plan to continue with their repairs. Next in line is the fountain in Kopeckého Sady, which is already in a critical condition. We also plan to restore its sound," said the mayor.

The fountains and water features are inspected in the fall during winterization. "In the spring, they must go through another inspection of the electrical and water supply systems, pumps, jets, and even the spotlights. If we discover any problems, we will have the damaged parts repaired or replaced. The basins that collect water must be cleaned, and if necessary, we will repair any cracks and repaint them," said Ilona Pelíšková from SVSMP. The work that needs to be done before releasing the water usually takes three weeks. At the beginning of April, they start with the dismantling and removal of protective covers, cleaning of containers, and checking the technology. Only after that is it possible to release water into more than 30 water features in the city. "Once temperatures in the city reach summer levels, we plan to put the misting systems back into operation," said the Deputy for Transport and the Environment Aleš Tolar (STAN).

The most challenging is the reactivation of the large fountains Angel, Camel, and Greyhound, which have been in Republic Square since July 2010. The fountains have their technical facilities hidden underground. Beneath the square is also the largest, nearly twenty-cubic meter tank of the Camel fountain.

The water in the fountains is not potable. It must be chemically treated with chlorine to prevent algae formation, which could damage the complex technology. Thus, the water usually circulates in a closed circuit. "We change it approximately once a month; sometimes we have to change it earlier, for example, in cases where it is contaminated by vandals or clogged with pollen. One separate water replacement for a fountain, such as in Republic Square, costs about 7,000 crowns," Pelíšková stated.

Drinking water can be found in drinking fountains or pumps. The most famous drinking fountain is located where Bedřich Smetana Street intersects Kopeckého Sady, and others can be found at Mikulášské Square, by the entrance to Borský Park, in the park at Červený Hrádek, or in Koterov in the village square. In the park circuit around the historic center, there are seven pumps where people can also refresh themselves with drinking water.