Why was only one spout working on the Large Onofrio Fountain?

Due to a burst internal valve (electric valve in the shaft) that occurred on August 3, 2026, in the afternoon.

Has the fountain fault been repaired?

Yes, the fault was fixed by the evening of the same day, and the fountain is back in operation on August 4 with all eight available spouts.

What caused the recent problem at the Small Onofrio Fountain?

Last week, someone threw a plastic cup into the fountain, which got into the system and caused water to overflow.

Do all spouts on the Large Onofrio Fountain usually work during the summer?

No, during the summer months, every other spout typically works, which is the standard summer operating mode, not a new measure.

Local

Valve Burst Turns Off the Taps: Why Only One Spout Was Working

B.K. · Prije 3h | 2 min

DPDS President Maro Kapović reveals the cause of the malfunction and reminds of the recent issue with a plastic cup at the Small Onofrio Fountain.

Summary

On the Large Onofrio Fountain in Dubrovnik, a valve burst on the afternoon of August 3, causing only one spout to work for several hours.
The fault was fixed by the evening of the same day, and the fountain is working again, confirmed by DPDS and the City of Dubrovnik.
DPDS President Maro Kapović also revealed that last week, the Small Onofrio Fountain experienced water overflow due to a plastic cup thrown into the system.
During the summer, every other spout on the Large Onofrio Fountain regularly works, and one is currently out of service due to a separate fault.

Residents and tourists in Dubrovnik were greeted by an unusual sight at the Large Onofrio Fountain yesterday, water was flowing from only one spout. Reactions on social media, particularly on the Facebook page of the Grad city district, were not long in coming, and the Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities (DPDS) has provided an explanation.

Fault Fixed in Record Time

DPDS President Maro Kapović clarified what happened. "Yesterday afternoon, the internal valve on the Large Onofrio Fountain burst, causing only one spout to work for several hours. The fault was fixed by the evening, so all eight available spouts on the fountain are now working again," Kapović told Slobodna Dalmacija.

However, the details of the fault differ slightly depending on the source. While Slobodna Dalmacija quotes Kapović about the "internal valve" bursting, the City of Dubrovnik confirmed to JUGInfo that the "valve in the fountain shaft" burst, i.e., a malfunction of the electric valve. Regardless of the technical terminology, both sources agree that DPDS, responsible for fountain maintenance, resolved the issue in the shortest possible time, and the fountain was back in operation today, August 4, 2026.

Plastic Cup and Summer Operating Mode

Kapović also told Slobodna Dalmacija that this is not the only recent issue with the city's fountains. "Last week, there were also problems with the Small Onofrio Fountain. Someone threw a plastic cup into it, which got into the system and caused water to overflow. But that problem was also quickly resolved," he said.

The City of Dubrovnik also reminds of the usual summer practice. During the summer months, every other spout on the Large Onofrio Fountain regularly works, as in previous years. This is a standard summer operating mode, not a new measure. Additionally, it has been confirmed that one spout is currently out of service due to a separate fault that DPDS is already working on.