MEDICINE HAT, ALTA. — Residents of Medicine Hat are skating smoother and faster thanks to the installation of a new water treatment system at the city’s Family Leisure Centre (FLC).
The project is the latest part of an ongoing initiative to find operation cost savings and efficiencies within the organization.
The city was able to get nearly $30,000 in funding from the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre to build the non-chemical treatment system. Officials noted the system uses significantly lower water temperatures to flood the ice. This will lower utility costs as well as provide a better quality ice surface for skaters.
“Staff at the FLC have been busy over the last several weeks, testing the new system and prepping the ice surface. This new system allows the ice to freeze faster after a flood than before,” said Stephan Rainville, superintendent of recreation facility operations, in a media release. “When the facility does reopen, rink users will see a difference in the lines and logos within the ice.”
Rainville added the city anticipates that the system will help lower operating costs for the Cenovus Arena by improving efficiencies related to ice building and maintenance.
“We were fortunate to be able to complete this project over the last several weeks while the facility has been closed to the public,” Rainville said. “We’ll be ready for folks to lace up their skates as soon as current provincial restrictions are lifted.”
This is another proud REALice installation which lets arenas use much colder floodwater than what is traditionally used.