venice declares war on single-use plastic water bottles

 

As visitor numbers start to bounce back from the pandemic, Venice is looking for ways to minimize the environmental impact of tourists. The Italian city recently launched a new fountain map, in an effort to encourage visitors to access clean water from these sources instead of using plastic bottles. The campaign was initiated after local government data revealed that tourism accounts for between 28 and 40 percent of garbage production, depending on the season. 

venice unveils map of drinking fountains in an effort to reduce plastic bottle use
water fountain in Venice

image courtesy of Venice Tap Water

 

 

126 fountains provide safe, free drinking water in venice

 

Local authorities insist on the use of reusable water bottles in order to combat pollution caused by plastic bottles that wash up in the city’s famous canals. Pollution prevention is critical in a city like Venice, which is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and encouraging the use of free drinking water brings fewer bottles into the historic center, which means less pollution and less transportation. Meanwhile, the fountain map project also reminds tourists that the water in Venice is completely drinkable and safe to consume.

 

The map depicts the city’s 126 drinking fountains as well as the 60 on the surrounding islands. It is dotted with small fountain icons that indicate where visitors can find safe, clean, and easily accessible water. To make things even easier, Veritas, a water distribution company, has launched an app and website that displays the map and all the nearby fountains – it appears that there is one nearly every 100 meters (330 feet). Users can simply follow their GPS with their water bottle and quench their thirst for free, all while discovering some of the magnificent historic fountains hidden within the streets of Venice.

venice unveils map of drinking fountains in an effort to reduce plastic bottle use
water fountain in Venice

image courtesy of Venezia Pulita

venice unveils map of drinking fountains in an effort to reduce plastic bottle use

water fountain in Venice

image courtesy of Venezia Pulita

venice unveils map of drinking fountains in an effort to reduce plastic bottle use

 Fontana di Fondamenta Quintavalle

image courtesy of Conoscere Venezia

venice unveils map of drinking fountains in an effort to reduce plastic bottle use
Fontana di Rio Tera ai Saloni

image courtesy of Conoscere Venezia

venice unveils map of drinking fountains in an effort to reduce plastic bottle use

Fontana di Calle San Girolamo

image courtesy of Conoscere Venezia

venice unveils map of drinking fountains in an effort to reduce plastic bottle use

image courtesy of Venezia Pulita 

venice unveils map of drinking fountains in an effort to reduce plastic bottle use
map of drinking fountains in Venice

image courtesy of Venice Tap Water

 

 

project info: 

 

 

name: Map of Drinking Fountains in Venice
author: Venice Tap Water