Munich reopens Fish Fountain with timer to cut water use

Munich has restarted the famous Fish Fountain on Marienplatz after installing a timer to reduce water consumption, BR reported.

The fountain will now operate for 12 hours a day, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., rather than running around the clock.

It was switched off in early July along with nine other large ornamental fountains in the city. Operating hours were also reduced at more than 50 other fountains, with the measures intended to cut water use by almost half during the heatwave.

Munich’s city council had also decided to equip at least 30 water-intensive ornamental fountains with monitoring, control and regulation technology. The Fish Fountain is the first to be upgraded.

Strict water-use rules introduced in Munich in mid-July were not extended beyond Aug. 1 after consumption fell again, according to Munich’s public utilities. The rules had banned watering lawns, washing cars outside car washes and operating private pools.

Mayor Dominik Krause of the Greens said the city’s water resources had been “extremely strained” after a dry winter and spring.