European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC)

Venice Tap Water

Venice Tap Water
Italy
VTW_photo
Venice Tap Water is a collaborative cultural and environmental project that promotes the use of public drinking fountains in Venice as the only sustainable alternative to bottled water. Through artistic practices, digital mapping and community engagement, the initiative raises awareness about water as a shared resource while encouraging residents and visitors to adopt refill habits. By making the city’s fountain network visible and accessible, the project helps reduce plastic waste and supports a more low-impact tourism in Venice’s fragile lagoon ecosystem.
Venice Tap Water is a social and environment initiative that sustains mains water as a shared human resource while reducing plastic pollution and encouraging civic engagement. Despite the high quality and safety of municipal tap water, residents and the nearly 30 million tourists who visit the city every year, continue to rely heavily on bottled water, generating significant plastic waste and environmental pressure on the fragile lagoon ecosystem. The project combines artistic practices, digital tools and community participation to raise awareness about water as a common good. A key component is the digital mapping of Venice’s network of more than 240 public fountains, providing accessible information on their location and operational status. Communication campaigns, social media outreach and informational materials help residents and visitors easily locate fountains and understand the environmental benefits of refilling reusable bottles. By making public water infrastructure visible and accessible, Venice Tap Water encourages behavioural change, reduces single-use plastic consumption and strengthens civic engagement around the stewardship of shared urban resources.

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