When Edmonton’s outdoor pools close at the end of the summer season, almost two million litres of clean, dechlorinated water will be recycled to irrigate nearby parks rather than being drained into the sanitary sewer system.
“We pull the plug on several pools a year, but the water doesn’t go down the drain,” said Don Dombrosky, Director, Recreation and Leisure Centres. “Water is a precious resource, and we make every effort to conserve water and improve water use in City operations. We are not only reducing our environmental footprint, we are reducing the costs to taxpayers.”
The traditional procedure for swimming pool closures has been to drain the water from the pool into the sanitary sewer system. Through the City of Edmonton Water Reuse Program, the seasonal and maintenance closures of swimming pools are coordinated with parks watering operations so that the pool water can be recycled.
After the pool has been closed to the public, the water is dechlorinated, tested, and pumped directly into the surrounding parkland or into water trucks for nearby irrigation. The goal is to have an efficient and effective process for water reuse, minimize the resources used, and set and achieve a high standard for environmental preservation and sustainability.
The Water Reuse Program has been very successful and has made a positive contribution to the environment. Since the City of Edmonton initiated the program three years ago, approximately 20 million litres of water have been recycled from indoor and outdoor pools. The program has decreased water consumption, lowered the cost of irrigation by substituting potable water with pool water, reduced the demand on the sanitary sewer system, and offset the effects of drought in Edmonton’s parks.
“This is a perfect opportunity to water the trees, turf, shrubs and flowerbeds in Borden Park,” said Doug Costigan, Director, River Valley, Forestry and Environmental Services. “Drought conditions this year have made the greenery in all the parks extra ‘thirsty’. This program provides a win-win for the City – The water is drained from the Borden Park Outdoor Pool, so it doesn’t need to go down the sewer drain to be treated at the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant, and good, clean water is recycled where it is needed – in the park.”
The Water Reuse Program has expanded from municipal swimming pools to include the YMCA and NAIT pools as well. In June 2009, the City of Edmonton awarded program team members with the Charles Labatiuk Award for Environmental Excellence, for demonstrating environmental excellence in innovating, leading and improving how the City does business. The Water Reuse Program is part of the City of Edmonton Environmental Strategic Plan and implemented through Enviso, the City’s ISO 14001 environmental management systems.