In the middle of a heatwave, Skopje is trying to offer its residents at least something simple - water. Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski announced that more than 210 drinking fountains have been put into service across the city, with the public water utility working on the ground.

Alongside the drinking fountains, the city's ornamental fountains are also being restored, among them the well-known "Alexander the Great" and "Lotus Flower". Three modern public toilets have also been announced at spots like the City Park and "Philip II" Square - details that sound minor in a metropolis, but mean a lot to the person standing on the street in the heat.

All of this is part of the City of Skopje's 2026 budget rebalance, which earmarks funds for projects in urban planning, utilities, sport and the environment. On paper, the list is long and respectable.

The question, as always, is whether those 210 fountains will still be flowing in August, or whether they were only announced in June. The people of Skopje know all too well the grand openings that are followed by silence and broken infrastructure. A drinking fountain is a small, useful thing - but it's worth something only if it works when it's needed most, not just on the day of the announcement.