The reason why full water carafes are placed in the corners of houses in this European country

Placing full water carafes on street corners, building entrances, or doorsteps is one of the home remedies that began years ago in rural areas to prevent domestic or stray animals from relieving themselves in these spots. Over time, the practice has spread to urban environments.

When these animals relieve themselves in such places, the materials can deteriorate over time, or worse, pollute the surrounding area, potentially causing unsanitary conditions in the streets if not cleaned regularly.

Background

Initially, as reported by La Gaceta de Salamanca, rural residents used sulfur and sodium carbonate (lye) to stop dogs and cats from such behavior. However, sometimes the cure is worse than the disease.

In this case, it was found that these chemical compounds worked against animals because of the strong smell of sulfur—but the yellow color attracted the curiosity of young children, sometimes causing injuries when they came into contact with it. As a result, this practice was eventually banned.

A home remedy that started in villages

Following the ban, rural communities began placing full water carafes in spots likely to attract the attention of animals—both domestic and stray—as places to relieve themselves in public areas. The presence of these water bottles helps prevent the unsanitary effects of such behavior if it goes uncollected or uncleaned.

Going into more detail, the local Salamanca outlet includes a more precise explanation from Antonio Rubio, president of the Salamanca College of Veterinarians, about why placing carafes on street corners and doorways might be effective:

“We don’t know if it’s truly effective, but it is true that dogs might get scared because they see their reflection or because the sunlight reflects off the water—and like pigeons, it bothers them and intimidates them,” explained the president of the Salamanca veterinary association.