Barcelona prepares ornamental fountains after drought restrictions lifted

The Barcelona city council is preparing to reactivate the ornamental fountains after the drought restrictions were lifted, as announced on Wednesday by local authorities.

Fountains have been switched off for around two-and-a-half years due to the drought that hit Catalonia during the last months.

During the announcement, mayor Jaume Collboni turned the water gears of the Plaça Catalunya fountain to start filling it up.

The city will now start filling ornamental fountains of less than 40 square meters before summer and those between 40 and 100 square meters between June and October. Fountains surpassing 100 square meters will start working again between October and June 2026.

The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, one of the most unique ornamental fountains in the Catalan capital, is expected to start working in late September, coinciding with the local festivities of La Mercè.

Barcelona will reactivate over 200 ornamental fountains that stopped working as Catalonia faced one of the toughest recorded droughts.

The city has 330 fountains, although 85 of these have not stopped working during the last months as there are several animals and plants. The other 245 are currently empty.

"There are a lot of people who are asking for the fountains," Jaume Collboni told reporters next to the Plaça Catalunya fountains. "Today is the day to explain that we will start switching them on in the upcoming months," he added.

Collboni addressed journalists a day after the Catalan government fully approved lifting the drought restrictions in place after reservoirs increased their capacity due to recent rain.

Fountains will start working progressively, as many have suffered damages or need repairs and improvements after being switched off since November 2022.

"Fountains have been switched off for over two years, which has caused maintenance issues that need fixing," Collboni said.