Has Invercargill's ongoing prank become tiresome?

“We know the prank is a bit of an Invercargill institution, but it costs in both staff time and ratepayer money."

The Gala St fountain in Invercargill after someone dumped soap into it as a prank.

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The first person that unloaded a bottle of dish washing liquid into Invercargill’s Gala St water fountain was a comedic genius.

In terms of pranks, it was a good one. However, the keyword in that sentence might be “was”?

Is it still hilarious or simply tiresome?

What we do know is it unoriginal, and that the Invercargill City Council isn’t all that thrilled by it.

The council’s parks and recreation manager Caroline Rain says parks staff are regularly pulled away from other duties to deal with soap in the Gala St fountain. 

“We know the prank is a bit of an Invercargill institution, but it costs in both staff time and ratepayer money,” Rain says. 

“We want people to enjoy the space but if they must splash around then go to Splash Palace, and if they want bubbles they should have a bubble bath.”

Vinegar is used to stop further bubbles forming in the fountain, but Rain says it does nothing to stop the bubbles already formed and staff have to wait for the bubbles to pop or disperse.

“Staff occasionally have to try and sweep the bubbles into the ground as they can tumble down the road causing a traffic hazard.” 

The Gala St fountain in Invercargill after soap was dumped into it as a prank.

The fountain’s pump system is a closed system, meaning the water is re-used. 

Both the soap and the vinegar are not good for the pump system and Rain says it will eventually shorten its life.

“It can also mean that the paving stones around the fountain get really slippery, which can be dangerous.”

Invercargill - it is time to retire this well-worn prank isn’t it?