FI17341

Request

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request information about the walk-through water and mist feature (the four steel rings) installed in Dover Market Square as part of the regeneration completed in 2022. I visited Dover 2 weeks ago and I really enjoyed the mist rings. 

I am involved in the planning of a public-space redesign in Eisenstadt, Austria, where we are considering a similar misting installation. I would be very grateful for any of the following information you are able to release:

  1. The capital cost of the water/mist feature specifically (i.e. the four rings and their misting system), as distinct from the overall £3.6m public realm budget.
  2. The company that designed and the company that manufactured/installed the feature and its misting system.
  3. Water consumption of the feature – for example litres per hour or per day during operation, and an estimate per season if available.
  4. Whether the system uses mains water on a run-to-waste basis or recirculates/filters the water, and if recirculating, the volume of the reservoir/tank.
  5. The typical operating schedule – daily operating hours and the months of the year the feature runs.
  6. The annual running and maintenance costs of the feature (water, energy, servicing), if recorded.
  7. Any documented lessons learned, operational issues, or design changes since installation that you would consider relevant to a comparable project.

Response

1. The budget was £3.6m this included all the design/Landscaping and installation all as capital project costs.

2. The company who design the rings were The Fountain Workshop Limited, The Lead & Paint Mill, Cottage Road, Chatham, ME4 4SX.

3. Monthly billing – actual readings April 2025 and November 2025 only with all months in between estimated.  Total usage for 8 month period = 132 m3.  During Construction our Engineer was advised  “The feature will use 450 litres per hour if all four rings are in operation”.  Consumption will obviously depend on number and size of jets and operating hours of an individual feature.

4. Full freshwater system with no recirculation (local 24 litre break tank installed).  Legionella prevention relies on a UV lamp and turn over.  Please bear in mind your regional requirements regarding legionella and your local ambient temperatures.

5. April to September daily 10 am to 5 pm.

6. 2023-24 = £9480; 2024-25 = £10,005; 2025-26 = £11,537

7. There are 128 jets.  We had to replace 50 this year at a cost of £8,000 following just over four years operation.  Devising a safe, effective and achievable process for super chlorination with the designers/installers, following any prolonged period of switch off was challenging.