Every third fountain in Copenhagen is dry after layoffs

Every third fountain in Copenhagen is dry after resignations

A total of 14 fountains lack water – including at Axel Torv, Israels Plads and Mozarts Plads.

The season for the municipality's fountains normally runs from the beginning of April until sometime in the autumn. (Photo: © Thomas Traasdahl, Ritzau Scanpix)

By Ritzau ([email protected]) 6 minutes ago

If you want to dip your toes in a fountain in Copenhagen during the summer heat, you might be out of luck.

More than every third fountain in the municipality is without water. This is because two of the employees who were responsible for the operation have resigned.

This appears in a memo from the Climate, Environment and Technical Administration of the City of Copenhagen.

Mette Baungaard, who is area manager in the administration, is also "disappointed" that it has not been possible to open all the fountains this season.

She states this in a written response to TV 2 Kosmopol.

"I understand if Copenhageners and the many tourists in the city miss some of the beautiful and cooling fountains in the summer heat," she says.

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Municipality in the process of training

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The memo from the administration states that the operation of the fountains is a "specialized task that requires in-depth knowledge of each individual facility."

The fountains are described as technically complex.

Mette Baungaard tells TV 2 Kosmopol that the administration is in the process of hiring and training new, specialized employees.

Out of the municipality's 40 fountains, 14 are out of service. This includes, among others, at Axel Torv, Israels Plads, Mozarts Plads, Landemærket and Valbyparken's wading pool.

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Fountains require weekly supervision

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The work on the municipality's fountains is carried out by two employees together for safety reasons.

This is because part of the work takes place in underground technical rooms, where it must be possible to call for assistance if needed.

In addition, a fountain requires weekly supervision when it is in operation. Checks must be carried out on water quality, filter cleaning, chemical dosing, and ongoing fault finding and adjustment of the facilities' operation.

The so-called season for the municipality's fountains normally runs from the beginning of April, when the first fountains are opened. Over the autumn, the fountains are closed again.

In addition to the five previously mentioned fountains that are closed, this also applies to fountains at Otto Krabbes Plads, Søpavillonen Vest, Gråbrødre Torv, Superkilen, Brønshøj Gadekær, Sankt Jørgens Sø, Springvandsmaskinen on Rørsangervej, Hans Tavsens Park and Dragespringvandet.

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