Temporary water stations to be installed in popular Calgary areas
Posted Aug 2, 2023 7:18 am.
Last Updated Aug 2, 2023 7:19 am.
Six temporary water stations will be installed in areas around Calgary popular with pedestrians, the city said Tuesday.
The first station, located along the sidewalk on Riverfront Avenue, just west of the 4th Avenue overpass — with the city saying the other five stations will be installed in the coming days.
The other stations will be located at 898 16 Ave SW near Tomkins Park, 1220 9 Ave SW on the south side of Shaw Millennium Park, 688 5 St. SW, near the provincial Court House, and 800 1 St. SW, near the Hudson Bay Building downtown. The city says the sixth location will be confirmed soon.
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All six stations will stay in place until mid-September, weather-permitting.
“We are testing out six water stations as part of a pilot to understand the effectiveness of the locations and usage,” Coby Duerr, Deputy Chief of Emergency Management Operations for the City, said in a press release. “Drinking water and misting yourself can help bring your core body temperature down, which can help prevent dangerous heat-related illnesses during high temperatures.”
The stations are designed with “water-wise functionality” and accessibility in mind, the city says — with each including a drinking fountain, a water bottle filling station, a pet water fountain, and overhead misting.
All features are activated with the push of a button and will turn off after a few seconds to minimize overall water use.
The city says stations will be attached to fire hydrants for water supply.
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“We want to ensure people can safely enjoy summer in Calgary,” Mayor Jyoti Gondek said in a press release. “The stations will provide access to water in areas that typically receive high foot traffic to help residents, visitors and four-legged friends stay hydrated and cool when the temperature rises.”
The city says the stations weren’t able to be launched earlier this summer due to supply chain issues during the manufacturing process.
