Since early October, specialists from the Municipal Enterprise 'Service Center' have begun the process of preparing city fountains for winter.
Conserving fountains is a critical procedure. To ensure the fountains survive the winter, it is essential to blow out the water supply systems, dismantle the nozzles, and remove electrical and pumping equipment. After dismantling, the fountain equipment is inspected, and repairs are made if necessary.
Typically, the process starts with fountains located in residential areas, followed by those in parks and squares. Fountains in the central part of Odessa are conserved last.
In recent years, the 'Service Center' has practiced fully sealing some fountain basins. This method is applied to fountains in the City Garden, Shevchenko Park ('Vaza Mala'), and the Cosmonauts Square. Additionally, since the onset of war, four fountains located in the UNESCO zone have been completely shut down: the Memorial Fountain to the victims of German-Romanian fascists, the 'Petya and Gavrik' fountain, the 'Children and Frog' fountain, and the well-fountain 'Source'.
The reverse process, reopening the fountains, will commence in early spring. The first fountains are usually activated in the city center by April 1, and the rest will follow in April.
Note
The 'Service Center' manages 27 city fountains. In 2024, 17 fountains were reopened, all located outdoors, making weather conditions the primary factor in their operational period.
Fifteen employees of the 'Service Center' ensure the proper functioning of these fountains.
Throughout the spring, summer, and autumn, the 'Service Center' specialists conduct routine maintenance on the fountains: cleaning the basins, collecting litter, cleaning external filters and nozzles, washing the sand filter, and topping up the water to the required level.
In addition to scheduled maintenance, the fountains occasionally experience acts of vandalism, which require unscheduled repairs.
The fountain on Krymsky Boulevard has historically suffered the most vandalism. Despite numerous warnings, teenagers often misbehave, damaging the equipment.
All restoration work is handled by the specialists of the 'Service Center', who continue to perform their duties despite the challenges posed by wartime.
