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When in Venice, Can the Water Bottles

Legendary city pleads with tourists to use public fountains

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 4, 2008 9:19 AM CDT

(Newser) – Faced with a mountain of discarded plastic bottles, Venice is asking 19 million tourists to quit drinking mineral water and use the city's 122 public fountains. Beginning Thursday, visitors to the Piazzale Roma will be handed reusable plastic bottles and a map showing fountains that city officials claim are "super safe," reports the Guardian.

Heavy traffic in the Grand Canal, Venice. Tourists in the city are being asked to us the city's public fountains, not mineral water.
Heavy traffic in the Grand Canal, Venice. Tourists in the city are being asked to us the city's public fountains, not mineral water.   (Magnum Photos)
A gondola in Venice. Vistors to the city are being asked to use drinking fountains and not buy mineral water.
A gondola in Venice. Vistors to the city are being asked to use drinking fountains and not buy mineral water.   ((c) Gaspa)
A man splashes water on his face from a fountain in this file photo. Besieged by plastic bottles, Venice officials are asking tourists to make use of public fountains.
A man splashes water on his face from a fountain in this file photo. Besieged by plastic bottles, Venice officials are asking tourists to make use of public fountains.   (AP Photo/Paul White)
Gondolas in front of St. Mark's bell tower in Venice. Vistors to the city are being asked not to use mineral water and to drink from the city's public fountains.
Gondolas in front of St. Mark's bell tower in Venice. Vistors to the city are being asked not to use mineral water and to drink from the city's public fountains.   (AP Photo/Luigi Costantini, File)
Tourists enjoy the sun in a crowded St.Mark's Square, in Venice. Vistors are being asked not to buy mineral water but to use the city's public fountains.
Tourists enjoy the sun in a crowded St.Mark's Square, in Venice. Vistors are being asked not to buy mineral water but to use the city's public fountains.   (AP Photo)
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