On Sun, 20 Oct 1996, Derek Sherman wrote:

Just got done watching the DNA fansub, and came up with a question...

In several different anime, I've seen people using a ladle
to sprinkle water on sidewalks and such... what is the
purpose of this?

It cools off the sidewalk and keeps down dust.

John Walter Biles :  MA-History, Ph.D Wannabe at U. Kansas         
ranma@falcon.cc.ukans.edu      bailesu@komodo.hacks.arizona.edu  
http://www.hacks.arizona.edu/~bailesu/falcon.html 
     "I am tougher than the average bear,"  Davrosite replied.  "I
merely wished everyone to believe I was dead."  --Lemon Sherbet, Chapter 
5 (Draft)