diff --git a/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_context.ml b/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_context.ml
index 4ce8aba35..cb234750a 100644
--- a/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_context.ml
+++ b/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_context.ml
@@ -100,8 +100,10 @@ let originate_contract rpc_config
 
 let faucet rpc_config block ?force ~manager_pkh () =
   Client_node_rpcs.Blocks.net rpc_config block >>=? fun net ->
+  Client_proto_rpcs.Context.faucet_counter rpc_config block >>=? fun pcounter ->
+  let counter = Int32.succ pcounter in
   Client_proto_rpcs.Helpers.Forge.Anonymous.faucet
-    rpc_config block ~net ~id:manager_pkh () >>=? fun bytes ->
+    rpc_config block ~net ~id:manager_pkh counter >>=? fun bytes ->
   originate rpc_config ?force ~block bytes
 
 let delegate_contract rpc_config
diff --git a/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_rpcs.ml b/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_rpcs.ml
index ce417a43b..1b943456f 100644
--- a/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_rpcs.ml
+++ b/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_rpcs.ml
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ module Context = struct
   let next_level cctxt block =
     call_error_service1 cctxt Services.Context.next_level block ()
 
+  let faucet_counter cctxt block =
+    call_error_service1 cctxt Services.Context.faucet_counter block ()
+
   module Nonce = struct
 
     type nonce_info = Services.Context.Nonce.nonce_info =
@@ -248,9 +251,9 @@ module Helpers = struct
           block ~net ~level ~nonce () =
         operations cctxt block ~net [Seed_nonce_revelation { level ; nonce }]
       let faucet cctxt
-          block ~net ~id () =
+          block ~net ~id counter =
         let nonce = Sodium.Random.Bigbytes.generate 16 in
-        operations cctxt block ~net [Faucet { id ; nonce }]
+        operations cctxt block ~net [Faucet { id ; counter ; nonce }]
     end
     let block cctxt
         block ~net ~predecessor ~timestamp ~fitness ~operations_hash
diff --git a/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_rpcs.mli b/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_rpcs.mli
index 84d69d736..4e20e69e4 100644
--- a/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_rpcs.mli
+++ b/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_rpcs.mli
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@ module Context : sig
   (** [next_level cctxt blk] returns the (protocol view of the) level
       of the successor of [blk]. *)
 
+  val faucet_counter:
+    Client_rpcs.config ->
+    block -> int32 tzresult Lwt.t
+
   module Nonce : sig
     val hash:
     Client_rpcs.config ->
@@ -306,7 +310,7 @@ module Helpers : sig
         block ->
         net:Net_id.t ->
         id:public_key_hash ->
-        unit -> MBytes.t tzresult Lwt.t
+        int32 -> MBytes.t tzresult Lwt.t
     end
     val block:
       Client_rpcs.config ->
diff --git a/src/proto/alpha/apply.ml b/src/proto/alpha/apply.ml
index 2c8438d66..067be76c4 100644
--- a/src/proto/alpha/apply.ml
+++ b/src/proto/alpha/apply.ml
@@ -196,7 +196,9 @@ let apply_anonymous_operation ctxt miner_contract origination_nonce kind =
               ctxt contract Constants.seed_nonce_revelation_tip >>=? fun ctxt ->
             return (ctxt, origination_nonce)
       end
-  | Faucet { id = manager } ->
+  | Faucet { id = manager ; counter } ->
+      Contract.check_faucet_counter_increment ctxt counter >>=? fun () ->
+      Contract.increment_faucet_counter ctxt >>=? fun ctxt ->
       (* Free tez for all! *)
       begin
         match miner_contract with
diff --git a/src/proto/alpha/contract_storage.ml b/src/proto/alpha/contract_storage.ml
index 59a25dc35..5581c455e 100644
--- a/src/proto/alpha/contract_storage.ml
+++ b/src/proto/alpha/contract_storage.ml
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ type error +=
   | Cannot_pay_storage_fee of Contract_repr.contract * Tez_repr.t * Tez_repr.t (* `Temporary *)
   | Counter_in_the_past of Contract_repr.contract * int32 * int32 (* `Branch *)
   | Counter_in_the_future of Contract_repr.contract * int32 * int32 (* `Temporary *)
+  | Faucet_counter_in_the_past of int32 * int32 (* `Branch *)
+  | Faucet_counter_in_the_future of int32 * int32 (* `Temporary *)
   | Unspendable_contract of Contract_repr.contract (* `Permanent *)
   | Non_existing_contract of Contract_repr.contract (* `Temporary *)
   | Non_delegatable_contract of Contract_repr.contract (* `Permanent *)
@@ -105,6 +107,36 @@ let () =
          (req "found" int32))
     (function Counter_in_the_past (c, x, y) -> Some (c, x, y) | _ -> None)
     (fun (c, x, y) -> Counter_in_the_past (c, x, y)) ;
+  register_error_kind
+    `Temporary
+    ~id:"contract.faucet_counter_in_the_future"
+    ~title:"Invalid faucet counter (not yet reached) in a manager operation"
+    ~description:"An operation assumed a faucet counter in the future"
+    ~pp:(fun ppf (exp, found) ->
+        Format.fprintf ppf
+          "Faucet counter %ld not yet reached (expected %ld)"
+          found exp)
+    Data_encoding.
+      (obj2
+         (req "expected" int32)
+         (req "found" int32))
+    (function Faucet_counter_in_the_future (x, y) -> Some (x, y) | _ -> None)
+    (fun (x, y) -> Faucet_counter_in_the_future (x, y)) ;
+  register_error_kind
+    `Branch
+    ~id:"contract.faucet_counter_in_the_past"
+    ~title:"Invalid faucet counter (already used) in a manager operation"
+    ~description:"An operation assumed a faucet counter in the past"
+    ~pp:(fun ppf (exp, found) ->
+        Format.fprintf ppf
+          "Faucet counter %ld already used (expected %ld)"
+          found exp)
+    Data_encoding.
+      (obj2
+         (req "expected" int32)
+         (req "found" int32))
+    (function Faucet_counter_in_the_past (x, y) -> Some (x, y) | _ -> None)
+    (fun (x, y) -> Faucet_counter_in_the_past (x, y)) ;
   register_error_kind
     `Temporary
     ~id:"contract.non_existing_contract"
@@ -228,6 +260,23 @@ let increment_counter c contract =
   Storage.Contract.Counter.get c contract >>=? fun contract_counter ->
   Storage.Contract.Counter.set c contract (Int32.succ contract_counter)
 
+let get_faucet_counter c =
+  Storage.Contract.Faucet_counter.get c
+
+let check_faucet_counter_increment c counter =
+  Storage.Contract.Faucet_counter.get c >>=? fun faucet_counter ->
+  let expected = Int32.succ faucet_counter in
+  if Compare.Int32.(expected = counter)
+  then return ()
+  else if Compare.Int32.(expected > counter) then
+    fail (Faucet_counter_in_the_past (expected, counter))
+  else
+    fail (Faucet_counter_in_the_future (expected, counter))
+
+let increment_faucet_counter c =
+  Storage.Contract.Faucet_counter.get c >>=? fun faucet_counter ->
+  Storage.Contract.Faucet_counter.set c (Int32.succ faucet_counter)
+
 let get_script c contract =
   Storage.Contract.Code.get_option c contract >>=? fun code ->
   Storage.Contract.Storage.get_option c contract >>=? fun storage ->
@@ -367,4 +416,5 @@ let originate c nonce ~balance ~manager ?script ~delegate ~spendable ~delegatabl
   return (c, contract, nonce)
 
 let init c =
+  Storage.Contract.Faucet_counter.init c 0l >>=? fun c ->
   Storage.Contract.Global_counter.init c 0l
diff --git a/src/proto/alpha/contract_storage.mli b/src/proto/alpha/contract_storage.mli
index 57a841b30..c09d2f768 100644
--- a/src/proto/alpha/contract_storage.mli
+++ b/src/proto/alpha/contract_storage.mli
@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ val list: Storage.t -> Contract_repr.t list tzresult Lwt.t
 val check_counter_increment: Storage.t -> Contract_repr.t -> int32 -> unit tzresult Lwt.t
 val increment_counter: Storage.t -> Contract_repr.t -> Storage.t tzresult Lwt.t
 
+val get_faucet_counter: Storage.t -> int32 tzresult Lwt.t
+val check_faucet_counter_increment: Storage.t -> int32 -> unit tzresult Lwt.t
+val increment_faucet_counter: Storage.t -> Storage.t tzresult Lwt.t
+
 val is_delegatable : Storage.t -> Contract_repr.t -> bool tzresult Lwt.t
 val is_spendable : Storage.t -> Contract_repr.t -> bool tzresult Lwt.t
 
diff --git a/src/proto/alpha/operation_repr.ml b/src/proto/alpha/operation_repr.ml
index dda246eae..2a8003b27 100644
--- a/src/proto/alpha/operation_repr.ml
+++ b/src/proto/alpha/operation_repr.ml
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ and anonymous_operation =
     }
   | Faucet of {
       id: Ed25519.Public_key_hash.t ;
+      counter: counter ;
       nonce: MBytes.t ;
     }
 
@@ -276,18 +277,19 @@ module Encoding = struct
       (fun ((), level, nonce) -> Seed_nonce_revelation { level ; nonce })
 
   let faucet_encoding =
-    (obj3
+    (obj4
        (req "kind" (constant "faucet"))
        (req "id" Ed25519.Public_key_hash.encoding)
+       (req "counter" int32)
        (req "nonce" (Fixed.bytes 16)))
 
   let faucet_case tag =
     case ~tag faucet_encoding
       (function
-        | Faucet { id ; nonce } -> Some ((), id, nonce)
+        | Faucet { id ; counter ; nonce } -> Some ((), id, counter, nonce)
         | _ -> None
       )
-      (fun ((), id, nonce) -> Faucet { id ; nonce })
+      (fun ((), id, counter, nonce) -> Faucet { id ; counter ; nonce })
 
   let unsigned_operation_case tag =
     case ~tag
diff --git a/src/proto/alpha/operation_repr.mli b/src/proto/alpha/operation_repr.mli
index a808d4b70..6e9a4d34f 100644
--- a/src/proto/alpha/operation_repr.mli
+++ b/src/proto/alpha/operation_repr.mli
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ and anonymous_operation =
     }
   | Faucet of {
       id: Ed25519.Public_key_hash.t ;
+      counter: counter ;
       nonce: MBytes.t ;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/proto/alpha/services.ml b/src/proto/alpha/services.ml
index b78165e45..2829bcac4 100644
--- a/src/proto/alpha/services.ml
+++ b/src/proto/alpha/services.ml
@@ -136,6 +136,13 @@ module Context = struct
                 describe ~title: "detailled level info" Level.encoding)
       RPC.Path.(custom_root / "context" / "next_level")
 
+  let faucet_counter custom_root =
+    RPC.service
+      ~description: "Access the global faucet counter."
+      ~input: empty
+      ~output: (wrap_tzerror int32)
+      RPC.Path.(custom_root / "context" / "faucet_counter")
+
   module Nonce = struct
 
     type nonce_info =
diff --git a/src/proto/alpha/services_registration.ml b/src/proto/alpha/services_registration.ml
index 0a1ed73f3..c9fc7488f 100644
--- a/src/proto/alpha/services_registration.ml
+++ b/src/proto/alpha/services_registration.ml
@@ -140,6 +140,8 @@ let next_level ctxt =
 
 let () = register0 Services.Context.next_level next_level
 
+let () = register0 Services.Context.faucet_counter Contract.get_faucet_counter
+
 (*-- Context.Nonce -----------------------------------------------------------*)
 
 let nonce ctxt raw_level () =
diff --git a/src/proto/alpha/storage.ml b/src/proto/alpha/storage.ml
index 8b9adaffe..1512032bd 100644
--- a/src/proto/alpha/storage.ml
+++ b/src/proto/alpha/storage.ml
@@ -108,6 +108,8 @@ module Key = struct
 
   let global_counter = store_root ["global_counter"]
 
+  let faucet_counter = store_root ["faucet_counter"]
+
   let next_cycle_to_be_rewarded = store_root ["next_cycle_to_be_rewarded"]
   let rewards = store_root ["rewards"]
 
@@ -265,6 +267,14 @@ module Contract = struct
       let encoding = Data_encoding.int32
     end)
 
+  module Faucet_counter =
+    Make_single_data_storage(struct
+      type value = int32
+      let name = "faucet counter"
+      let key = Key.faucet_counter
+      let encoding = Data_encoding.int32
+    end)
+
   (** FIXME REMOVE : use 'list' *)
   module Set =
     Make_data_set_storage(struct
diff --git a/src/proto/alpha/storage.mli b/src/proto/alpha/storage.mli
index a02c82663..5ec644398 100644
--- a/src/proto/alpha/storage.mli
+++ b/src/proto/alpha/storage.mli
@@ -122,6 +122,12 @@ module Contract : sig
     val init : t -> int32 -> t tzresult Lwt.t
   end
 
+  module Faucet_counter : sig
+    val get : t -> int32 tzresult Lwt.t
+    val set : t -> int32 -> t tzresult Lwt.t
+    val init : t -> int32 -> t tzresult Lwt.t
+  end
+
   (** The domain of alive contracts *)
   module Set : Data_set_storage
     with type value = Contract_repr.t
diff --git a/src/proto/alpha/tezos_context.mli b/src/proto/alpha/tezos_context.mli
index a374bd0fe..ed6a6cc07 100644
--- a/src/proto/alpha/tezos_context.mli
+++ b/src/proto/alpha/tezos_context.mli
@@ -369,6 +369,12 @@ module Contract : sig
   val check_counter_increment:
     context -> contract -> int32 -> unit tzresult Lwt.t
 
+  val get_faucet_counter: context -> int32 tzresult Lwt.t
+
+  val check_faucet_counter_increment: context -> int32 -> unit tzresult Lwt.t
+
+  val increment_faucet_counter: context -> context tzresult Lwt.t
+
 end
 
 module Vote : sig
@@ -435,6 +441,7 @@ and anonymous_operation =
     }
   | Faucet of {
       id: Ed25519.Public_key_hash.t ;
+      counter: counter ;
       nonce: MBytes.t ;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/tezos-deps.opam b/src/tezos-deps.opam
index 7e207c448..8de320dec 100644
--- a/src/tezos-deps.opam
+++ b/src/tezos-deps.opam
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ depends: [
   "git-unix"
   "ipv6-multicast"
   "irmin-watcher" (* for `irmin.unix` *)
+  "ezjsonm" {= "0.4.3" }
   "irmin" {>= "0.12" & < "1.0" }
   "lwt" {>= "3.0.0" }
   "lwt_ssl"