Until the 1970s, public fountains were the main source of water for the population. The Ancient Fountains of Ripatransone, located just outside the city walls, have retained their original form and tell a story common to many other fountains in the Marche region. The first written records date back to the 14th century and established their belonging to the community, with strict rules for their use and maintenance. Women drew water from them with typical terracotta jugs, crafted by local potters, carrying them on their heads with great skill. The fountains were also associated with the profession of water carrier, who brought water to homes, and that of washerwoman, who used the adjacent washhouses to wash and rinse clothes. The washhouses, simple or complex, were built of stone or brick and operated with a gravity-driven hydraulic system, with the water then used to irrigate the fields. The surviving structures, mostly built in the late nineteenth century, remain today as precious vestiges of daily life and community traditions.