15/10/2024

Association “Za Drinking Fountains” Celebrates Receiving the October Award and 10 Years of Existence, Announces the Restoration of 3 More Fountains

The Association Za Drinking Fountains marked ten years since its founding and the awarding of the highest recognition of the City of Zaječar, the October Award, with a reception for collaborators and partner organizations that participated in the fight to protect artesian fountains. On this occasion, a film was shown that summarized the Association’s activities, from citizen protests and institutional efforts, to the process of legalizing, regularizing, and revitalizing the fountains.

Boban Pogarčić, president of the Association, expressed his gratitude to the activists and all citizens who have supported efforts to preserve the fountains for the past decade, as well as to the local government for recognizing the importance of preserving the city’s most vital resource. He highlighted that since 2018, Heineken Serbia has been involved in the restoration of the fountains, during which seven fountains have been renovated and four artesian wells revitalized. He also announced the restoration of three more fountains and one artesian well.

In addition to protecting, restoring, and maintaining artesian fountains, the Association Za Česme initiated the adoption of the first document in Serbia related to local water management. A significant contribution to this was made by the project “Environmental Response to Mining Expansion in Timočka Krajina,” funded by the EU Delegation in Serbia. This initiative established a legal foundation for the preservation, improvement, and management of the deep waters of the Zaječar Neogene Basin, the city’s most important resource.

The Association’s plans for the future include continuing the restoration of artesian fountains while positioning them as a unique city brand and a tourist attraction. To support this, a QR code is placed on each renovated fountain, allowing both tourists and locals to access information about water quality, the fountain’s history, benefactors, and other interesting details. A specialized website has also been created to consolidate all information about Zaječar’s artesian fountains.

Source: Zamedia