Manchester City Council has unveiled its new-look fountains in Exchange Square following a £823,000 facelift that took almost a year to complete.
The city centre water feature - originally built 20 years ago as part of the redesign following the IRA bomb in 1996 - has been behind barriers since last April.
Council bosses said it was in need of sprucing up, although the bulk of the money was spent on mechanical repairs, similar to those carried out in Piccadilly Gardens at a cost of £400,000.
Initially, the revamp was expected to take around six months but the project was delayed due to 'technical issues'.
It is understood this centred on the original granite slates which were found to have cracks and plans had to be revised.
This also led to the cost of the scheme increasing by more than £120,000.
In a press release, the council said the redesign 'pays homage' to the original feature 'while improving its energy-efficiency and increasing its resilience to damage'.
The fountains, opposite the Corn Exchange, are now lit with colour-changing, energy-efficient LED lighting and animated with water jets that continually run through a 15-minute 'chase, dance and wave sequence' between 7am and 11pm.
The taps at the top of the water feature have also been retained and restored.
Sections of the original slate stepping stones have been retained, the council added, but have been 'inlaid and bonded into three raised plinths and set within a surrounding of granite, inviting visitors to sit and enjoy the animation of the water and the lighting'.
It is hoped the new design will minimise levels of debris entering the filter system and reduce the damage caused to the original stepping stones as a result of people walking over the feature.
New pumps and filters have also been installed which the council says will save energy and reduce the need for ongoing maintenance.
More than £700,000 was signed off for the project in January last year but the council said it ended up costing £823,000 due to the technical difficulties encountered.
The feature was designed and installed by Cruden Property Services and the Fountain Company (Glossop), who also designed and installed the St Peter’s Square water feature.
The expenditure immediately sparked criticism from the opposition Lib Dems.
Councillor Richard Kilpatrick said: "In the last few of years, Labour have wasted £1.2m on failing fountains.
"That’s enough to house every single person sleeping rough in Manchester for an entire year, along with a hot meal, a warm shower and access to a support worker.
"Now – take a minute to weigh up the difference housing every single rough sleeper would make versus the difference 'dancing fountains' will make.
"But only Manchester Labour could talk about taking homelessness seriously while recklessly wasting enough money to house every rough sleeper."
"These stupid fountains are a constant reminder of this Council's breathtaking incompetence, and just how often and wrong their priorities are.
"As we head into the elections this year, Lib Dems will fight to re-prioritise public money to end homelessness and invest in our public services – not vanity projects and 'dancing' failing fountains."
However, ruling Labour councillors said the fountains refurbishment had been a worthwhile investment.
Councillor Angeliki Stogia, the council’s Executive Member for the Environment, Planning and Transport, said: "Exchange Square is a great public space and has long been a focal point for local businesses, events and visitors.
"The attractive water feature has always been a big part of what makes it stand out and this revamp will help to secure its long-term future.
"This investment in the look and feel of the Square will help it to continue to serve Mancunians and our many visitors from around the globe, acting as a thriving place where people enjoy spending their time and a key hub of economic activity, supporting thousands of city centre jobs.
"I'd like to thank CityCo for supporting this scheme and local businesses for their patience while the work was carried out."
