As summer sets in, tourists visiting Venice will find fountains feature unexpectedly high on this year’s sightseeing tours as the city council aims to reduce waste in the world’s biggest consumer of mineral water.
A new initiative to cut down on bottled water consumption, called “100% Public,” is being launched today, World Environment Day.
Tourists are being given empty water bottles with the message “Don’t throw me away, re-use me!” and a map indicating the 122 fountains flowing with water from the city’s aqueducts (see below), inviting them to quench their thirst directly from the source.
Venice was chosen for the launch of the scheme due to its obvious links with water and its role as a tourist center. However there are plans to take the project to Italy’s other major cities.
Italians are the world’s largest consumers of bottled water, even though the natural water in Italy’s fountains is some of the cleanest in the world.
The campaign offers people the chance to cut waste and save money at the same time.
(via Reuters, from an article by Olivia Scarlett and Paul Casciato)
