the dry fountains of DC

The Washington Post took a look at the problem with designers' heavy use of fountains in their designs.

Almost half of the Park Service water features in the District are in need of repair, including damaged grates at the cauldron-like spout on Theodore Roosevelt Island and the strainers and impeller motors at the U.S. Navy Memorial. The towering Dupont Circle fountain is tilting, its huge top basin inching off-kilter and slowly spoiling the flow from its three scuppers. 

As they point out, some have been off for a decade, like the Columbus fountain in front of Union Station. (BTW, be sure to follow the link inside the quote for more on the DuPont Circle Fountain)