A Concise History of the First Outdoor Public Fountains
A Concise History of the First Outdoor Public Fountains Towns and communities depended on working water fountains to channel water for cooking, bathing, and cleaning up from nearby sources like ponds, streams, or springs. A source of water higher in elevation than the fountain was needed to pressurize the flow and send water spraying from the fountain's nozzle, a system without equal until the later part of the nineteenth century. Fountains throughout history have been created as monuments, impressing hometown citizens and tourists alike. Crude in design, the very first water fountains did not look much like modern fountains. A stone basin, crafted from rock, was the 1st fountain, utilized for holding water for drinking and religious functions. Natural stone basins are theorized to have been 1st utilized around 2,000 BC. Early fountains used in ancient civilizations relied on gravity to manipulate the flow of water through the fountain. Drinking water was delivered by public fountains, long before fountains became elaborate public monuments, as attractive as they are practical. Fountains with ornamental Gods, mythological monsters, and creatures began to appear in Rome in about 6 B.C., crafted from stone and bronze. The impressive aqueducts of Rome furnished water to the incredible public fountains, many of which you can go see today.Keeping Your Fountain Tidy
Keeping Your Fountain Tidy It is vital to carefully maintain water fountains for them to perform optimally. Leaves, twigs, and bugs very often find their way into fountains, so it is important to keep yours free from such things.
Another factor is that water that is exposed to sunlight is susceptible to growing algae. Mix hydrogen peroxide, sea salt, or vinegar into the water to avoid this particular dilemma. Another option is to stir bleach into the water, but this action can hurt wild animals and so should really be avoided. Every three-four months, garden fountains should go through a serious cleaning. The initial step is to empty out all of the water. When you have done this, wash inside the water reservoir with a mild detergent. Feel free to use a toothbrush if needed for any tiny crevasses. Do not leave any soap residue inside of or on the fountain.
It is highly recommended taking the pump apart to better clean the inside and remove any plankton or calcium. To make it less strenuous, soak it in vinegar for several hours before cleaning. Neither rain water nor mineral water contain substances that will build up inside the pump, so use either over tap water if possible.
Finally, be sure to have a quick look at your fountain every day and add water if you see that the level is too low. If the water level drops below the pump’s intake level, it can harm the pump and cause it to burn out - something you don't want to happen!
Where did Fountains Originate from?
Where did Fountains Originate from?
The amazing or ornamental effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, in addition to delivering drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property. From the beginning, outdoor fountains were simply there to serve as functional elements. Residents of urban areas, townships and small towns utilized them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash up, which meant that fountains had to be connected to nearby aqueduct or spring. Up until the nineteenth, fountains had to be higher and closer to a water supply, such as aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to benefit from gravity which fed the fountains. Acting as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also supplied clean, fresh drinking water. Bronze or stone masks of wildlife and heroes were frequently seen on Roman fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to re-create the gardens of paradise. The fountains seen in the Gardens of Versailles were intended to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries created baroque decorative fountains to exalt the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the spot where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
The end of the nineteenth century saw the increase in usage of indoor plumbing to provide drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to purely decorative elements. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to permit fountains to bring in clean water and allow for amazing water displays.
Embellishing city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the functions of modern-day fountains.