Fonte dos Leões brings brightness and color to Praça Gomes Teixeira. The water comes after the restoration of the monument, by the municipality, in an investment of about 27 thousand euros, with new systems at the water and energy level, which contributes to sustainability, reducing water losses and betting on low consumption of lighting.
Porto’s iconic fountain has been the subject of a major intervention that recalls its origins, original features and colors, but also brought it a new sensing and control system, making it more efficient both in terms of water and lighting. “Changes are not only in the restoration of the iron structure and around the lake itself, but also in the entire water system, always in the logic of water recirculation,” said the vice mayor and councilor on environment and climate change.
Filipe Araujo, accompanied by the rector of the University of Porto, Antonio Souza Pereira, and members of the municipal company Águas e Energia do Porto, responsible for the intervention, witnessed today’s revival of the Fonte dos Leões. “For the municipality, the presence of a decorative fountain also involves investing in minimal possible water losses. This is what we have done here, in addition to installing a new lighting system, so that this iconic square of the city is also well lit at night,” he added.
According to the vice-mayor, “the intervention follows various guidelines Municipal Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Changewhich the municipality of Porto implements.”
“This fountain is part of the image of the university itself”
For the rector of the University of Porto (U.Porto), “this iconic fountain is part of the image of the university itself. Moreover, it is already part of the students’ lives, who use it for many of their activities and include it in their parties,” said Antonio Sousa Pereira.
“The restoration of this square is good for the city, for the university and for the academic life that develops here and of which this fountain is a part. In the university’s published materials, great emphasis is always placed on framing the fountain with the rectory building. It’s very good to recover and be back in the city,” he added.
Complete rehabilitation of the monument
The company Águas e Energia do Porto carried out a complete renovation of the monument, correcting and correcting the structure of the fountain dedicated to the centenary. The entire aesthetic component has been rehabilitated, from the huge monument decorated with the posture of the four lions that compose it and the two platforms that complete its height, to the stereotomy of the reservoir that collects the water. In the metal elements, all areas of corrosion were removed and repaired, and paint with its own components was applied to increase the strength of iron, the original metal. In addition, in addition to the treatment of cracks, clogged and broken mortar elements, a new waterproofing system was applied to the tank, suitable for exposure to local weather conditions.
Thus, Fonte dos Leões returns to the future, more sustainable and equipped with technology that ensures greater efficiency in water and energy consumption. Various technical components were modified and the command and control system was replaced, several level sensors were installed (flow control, pump failure monitoring, lighting failure and automatic water disinfection dispensers) introducing new control and remote monitoring functions.
A new multi-color lighting system was also implemented using low-consumption LED technology, connected to different levels of the source and equipped with automatic activation. Therefore, the system can be activated only at night, allowing to save energy in one of the factors of higher consumption of equipment, and enhancing the beauty of the monument also at night.
The different systems are connected 24 hours a day via a wireless network, controlled by the Águas e Energia do Porto operations management, which allows quick response and action with minimal alarm, reducing reaction time and contributing to sustainable development in matters such as a possible loss of water or excessive consumption due to electrical breakdown.
What was once part of the central equipment in the distribution of water supply in the Baixa and Fos areas, whose main function was to regulate water pressure and aeration, is now reborn in all its glory, immortalized in memory, but also as a gift to all Porto residents and visitors to the city.
