Zaragoza Battles Heat with Water Stations

Zaragoza City Hall said on May 22 that it had added three chilled-water dispensers, new drinking fountains and misting points as the city prepared for rising temperatures. The new dispensers have been installed at Balcón de San Lázaro, Frente Fluvial and Parque Grande José Antonio Labordeta, according to a municipal statement. The city said the equipment is meant to expand hydration options in public space and complement Zaragoza’s existing network of nearly 700 public drinking fountains. Tatiana Gaudes, Zaragoza’s councillor for Environment and Mobility, said the measures would be folded into the city’s climate-refuge network, which she said would be activated “imminently.” ### Where exactly has Zaragoza added the new water points? The three new dispensers are located at Balcón de San Lázaro, Frente Fluvial and Parque Grande José Antonio Labordeta, the city said on May 22. Zaragoza described them as stainless-steel units with refrigerated water, installed this week as part of a broader set of summer heat measures. Four additional refreshment points have been added this year at plaza Albada, plaza Donante de Órganos, Andador Luis Puntes and Bulevar Corredor Verde, according to the same statement. (zaragoza.es) The city also said it had added a new “remojachicos” water-play feature at plaza Bámbola. ### How much water can the new dispensers provide? The new dispensers can cool 45 liters of water per hour, or 9 liters continuously, Zaragoza City Hall said. (zaragoza.es) The city said the outlet temperature can be regulated between 7 and 14 degrees Celsius. The units are adapted for children and people with reduced mobility, the statement said. Zaragoza also said the dispensers include anti-vandalism systems and are intended to reduce the carbon footprint linked to single-use packaging. (zaragoza.es) ### How does this fit into Zaragoza’s wider heat plan? Zaragoza said the new installations build on work carried out since 2024 to improve hydration, shade and outdoor cooling. The city said a 2024 study mapped and characterized 697 municipal drinking fountains, with about 75% on public streets and 25% in parks and gardens. (zaragoza.es) Tatiana Gaudes said the city wanted to keep expanding the drinking-fountain network, install new fountains in lower-density areas and intensify maintenance. (zaragoza.es) Gaudes said the latest additions are part of a broader network of climate refuges aimed at offering safe spaces during periods of high temperatures, especially for children, older residents and vulnerable people. ### What are residents being told to do during hot weather? (zaragoza.es) Zaragoza’s heat-information portal tells residents to drink water frequently even if they do not feel thirsty and to check the map of public drinking fountains. The city also advises people to remain in cool, shaded or air-conditioned places as much as possible, reduce physical activity during the hottest hours and seek medical help through emergency numbers 061 or 112 if heat-related symptoms appear. (zaragoza.es) The municipal portal also warns against leaving anyone in a parked, closed vehicle, especially children, older people or people with chronic illnesses. It gives separate sections for climate refuges, fountains, heat-island information and a city shadow map. ### What does the weather forecast show for Zaragoza now? AEMET’s municipal forecast for Zaragoza on Saturday, May 23, showed a temperature range of 19 to 36 degrees Celsius, with 34 degrees forecast for the 12:00-18:00 period. (zaragoza.es) The forecast page lists Zaragoza in the Ribera del Ebro de Zaragoza warning zone and shows highs of 36 degrees on Sunday, 35 on Monday and 38 on Thursday. The next step for residents is practical rather than procedural: Zaragoza’s heat-resources portal continues to publish the map of fountains, climate refuges and shade tools, while AEMET’s Zaragoza forecast page updates the city’s temperature outlook for the coming seven days. (zaragoza.es) (aemet.es)