20/03/2024
More FREE water fountains added near the Colosseum and Roman Forum
Along the Via Sacra, in the stretch that leads to the Colosseum and one of the most important archaeological areas in the world, three cast iron noses with the ACEA Group logo were inaugurated today. Present at the event were the councilor for public works of Rome Capital Ornella Segnalini, the president of the first municipality Lorenza Bonaccorsi, the director of the Colosseum archaeological park Alfonsina Russo and the president of the Acea Group Barbara Marinali.
The inauguration takes place on the 150th anniversary of the installation of the first nasone, which took place on the initiative of the mayor of Rome Luigi Pianciani, in 1874. Immediately after the unification of Italy, the distribution of water on the streets of the capital became widespread thanks to the creation of a dense network of these fountains, for public and free use, built in cast iron with the characteristic cylindrical shape and curved spout.
There are currently 2800 noses in Rome and they have been geolocalised by an app created by the Group, ACEA Waidy Wow, which allows citizens, tourists and athletes to identify the nearest water point where they can quench their thirst and also check their hydration level. The project, which represents the hi-tech evolution of the old fountains, has mapped the entire network of the capital and 150 thousand water points throughout the national territory.
Over the course of these 150 years, the big noses, in addition to representing the profound bond between the city and water, have become among the most popular symbols of the capital and have entered the history of cinema, featured in many neorealist films, such as “Bicycle Thieves” by Vittorio De Sica and “We loved each other so much” by Ettore Scola.
“The three noses inaugurated today - declared Barbara Marinali, president of the Acea Group - are a symbol of identity and tradition for our city but also an important testimony of our bond with water and of the commitment made by the Acea Group both in the protection of water resources and in the promotion of sustainability, key factors for improving the quality of life of citizens".
“The installation of the noses – commented the Councilor for Public Works of Rome Capital Ornella Segnalini – has first of all a symbolic value because it is 150 years since the creation of the first one in 1874. And it is also very important for further reasons. First of all to eliminate plastic and irregular sales situations. Another, fundamental aspect, is to give water to everyone, not only to tourists, but also to all people who are thirsty, because the fountains and noses are mainly used for this. Finally, these new three big noses, together with the other 2,800 scattered around the city, help feed and clean our sewers. They truly are free water, water for everyone.”
“Finally our visitors will have the opportunity to freely access additional sources of public water, which is very important especially in the warmer months - declared Alfonsina Russo, Director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park -. The installation of the noses also allows us to significantly reduce the consumption of plastic bottles and completes an initiative undertaken by the Park in 2019, adding to the 10 drinking water fountains already present between the Roman Forum and the Palatine".
TO KNOW MORE
Waidy is born, the new app that makes fountains, noses and water houses smart Public water, new version for the Waidy app.
