Durham Splashpad Design Concept (Image from West Grey council)
West Grey has figured out how it will provide water for a new splash pad coming to Durham.
Council approved providing a continuous flow of water for the new facility over a recirculated water option during a meeting on Feb. 20.
This is the latest in the Durham 150 Homecoming Committee project to install a splash pad in the town, after council approved installing it by the Durham Town Hall and providing $100,000 in December.
Corporate and Community Initiatives Officer Kodey Hewlett says, “for review of our water and sewer capacity, it appears as though we will have the capacity and the system to support a continuous flow system, which is the preferred system of the Durham 150 Homecoming Committee. With that being said, being able to support a continuous flow system is dependent on council and staff continuing the trajectory on the water and sewer capacity upgrades, including installation of a new well in the coming seasons.”
Coun. Geoffrey Shea expressed concern over water and sewer capacity issues.
“Maybe we can talk in the terms of the equivalent of homes. Would this facility be the equivalent of a home or 10 homes on both water and waste water,” says Shea.
Manager of Public Works Geoff Aiken says they estimate the splash pad to equal, in the worst case scenario, about 40 to 45 homes .
“Given the amount of strain that new development is placing on our water and waste water systems, dedicating 40 to 45 homes worth of capacity to this recreational facility does seem a little bit indulgent. I don’t know if it is a little bit too late to talk to the homecoming committee about if they had a plan B when this project was being considered,” says Shea.
Council discussed the merits of potentially switching to a recirculation water system.
“When you are looking at splash pads, you basically have two options. You have your recirculation system in which the water goes into a tank, gets chlorinated similar to a pool, and then moves back through the system. Or you have your continuous flow, which is similar to a sprinkler on your lawn,” says Hewlett.
Hewlett says the recirculation system would be more expensive, however, costing up to an additional $150,000.
The new splash pad is expected to be up and running by this Canada Day.