Fountain Conservation: Preparing for Winter in Odessa

As October arrives, the specialists of the «Service Center» Utility Company have begun preparations for the winterization of the city's fountains to ensure they can operate again in spring.

Conserving a fountain is a complex undertaking. To ensure the fountains survive the winter, the utility's experts must first drain the water supply systems, dismantle the nozzles, as well as the electrical and pumping equipment. After dismantling, an inspection of the fountain's components is conducted, and repairs are made if necessary.

This year, the first fountain to be shut down was located at the Railway Station Square. Following that, the fountains «Waterfall» on Kosivska Street and «Mermaid» in Victory Park are scheduled for conservation.

Other fountains located in city parks will cease operation by mid-October, while those adorning the central part of Odessa will be conserved last. Thus, all city fountains are expected to be winterized by early November.

Furthermore, in recent years, the «Service Center» Utility Company has adopted the practice of completely sealing the basins of certain fountains. This method is applied to fountains in the City Garden, Shevchenko Park («Small Vase»), and the Cosmonauts Square. Since the start of the war, four fountains in the UNESCO zone have been fully winterized and did not operate this year.

The reverse process—de-winterizing the fountains—will begin in early spring. The first fountains are usually turned on in the city center by April 1, with the rest following throughout April.

Note
The «Service Center» Utility Company manages 27 urban fountains. In 2024, 17 fountains were de-winterized. All of them are outdoors, so the main factors determining their operational period are weather conditions. A team of 15 employees ensures the proper functioning of these fountains. Throughout the spring, summer, and autumn, the specialists conduct regular maintenance, including cleaning of fountain basins. Additionally, acts of vandalism occasionally occur, particularly at the Crimean Boulevard fountain, where teenagers have damaged fixtures. All restoration work is handled by the «Service Center» specialists, who continue to perform their duties despite the challenges.