The Nuredduna Fountain: Why an Ornamental Basin Divides the Neighborhood in Pere Garau

A fountain, many questions: daily life on Calle Nuredduna

On a late Saturday afternoon the rumble of the garbage trucks mixes with the scent of freshly baked ensaimadas — and somewhere on Calle Nuredduna the ornamental fountain gurgles, a feature that has received more attention in recent weeks than many other structures in Pere Garau. Passersby spot paper cups and cans, residents find soap residue and lint in the water. Not every day, but often enough to upset people.

The central question: how much regulation does a shared space need?

The debate on the corner is more than a cleanliness discussion. At its core lies the question: how can public space be designed and managed so that it remains both attractive and usable — without particular groups constantly disturbing others? Complaints range from increased cleaning burdens for shop owners to the feeling that the corner looks "less safe" in the evenings. At the same time, teenagers and residents use the basin on hot days because the city does not provide sufficient alternatives everywhere.

What is often overlooked

Two aspects are missing in the public debate: first, the logic of urban design; second, the social conditions. Many ornamental fountains are designed for historic or aesthetic reasons, not as water points for people. A low rim or an easily accessible basin invites stepping in; that is more a design flaw than deliberate misbehavior.

Secondly: the summer heat — in hot weeks, plazas, shade and water are scarce. Those who have no air conditioning or balcony use public space more intensively. If there is no public toilet or tap for washing hands, a fountain quickly becomes a pragmatic solution, even if it annoys neighbors.

What residents and business owners demand

The local neighborhood initiative has a clear list: more frequent cleaning, clearer signage, targeted controls and information campaigns. Some propose structural adjustments — higher edges, altered water flow, automatic shut-off in the evening. Others think of social solutions: neighborhood patrols, cooperation with nearby bars or a small polite sign with a request.

Practical and low-key: Many do not want major construction sites or permanent barriers, but tested, cost-effective measures that do not dehumanize the place.

Critical analysis: what the city can do — and what it cannot

The city administration has so far responded with additional cleaning rounds and notices. That helps in the short term, but does not solve the causes. More enforcement requires staff; fines can deter, but have side effects if imposed arbitrarily. Temporary closures on hot weekends would be an option, but they are logistically complex and change the neighborhood's atmosphere.

More effective would be combined pilot projects: a time-limited rim adjustment combined with a night shut-off of the pump, together with an information campaign in Spanish and Catalan — and an evaluation after four weeks. That way it can be measured whether pollution decreases without immediately making permanent changes to the square.

Small, quickly implementable steps

- Clear, friendly signs in both languages explaining the reasons for considerate use.
- Trial modification of the water flow so the basin is less inviting for splashing.
- A pilot program with neighborhood liaisons who show presence in the evenings and point out social rules.
- Cooperation with local hospitality: bars that serve alcohol outdoors could introduce a small returnable-cup deposit system or provide extra trash bins.
- Measurable cleaning intervals and transparent reports so residents can see what the city is doing.

Why design and dialogue must go hand in hand

Anyone who knows the place hears the voices of the fruit-stand sellers, the clatter of plates in the bar and, in the evening, the distant honking from the city. This lively mix makes Pere Garau charming — and prone to conflicts. A purely prohibitive culture would take away the neighborhood's character. At the same time, consideration is not a given: it must be encouraged, and sometimes enforced through targeted measures.

The question is therefore not only who cleans the fountain, but how to find shared rules that work for everyone. A good start would be to turn outrage into a constructive experiment: small measures, clear evaluation, dialogue with user groups. If the fountain sparkles again without excluding anyone, Pere Garau will have won — not the administration, not one side or the other, but the neighborhood.