This work is funded by a $700,000 grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund and the Government of Canada, as well as a $950,000 Green Loan, to be paid back with water bill savings.

Update - June 2025

The City has started a project to improve spray pads and help people stay cool during hot weather, while also conserving water. Running from 2025 to 2027, this initiative will make it easier for everyone to access drinking water and find relief during extreme heat. Plus, it will help protect our water systems by reducing water use during the busiest summer months.

The project will include:

• Smarter Spray Pads – Upgrading nozzles and adding remote controls to use water more efficiently.
• More Shade & Water Access – Installing shade structures, water fountains, and misting stations at six spray pad and paddling pool locations to provide extra relief from the heat.

Pilot Project 2023-2024

As part of the Water Conservation Strategy, the City is taking the lead to conserve water. A pilot project focused on five spray pads using a combination of misters and lower-flow nozzles was initiated to reduce water use. These five spray pads are in Briarwood, Pleasant Hill, River Heights, Stonebridge and Willowgrove. Installation time was minimal and did not impact operations. These upgrades are expected to reduce water use by 20 to 60% while maintaining 100% of the fun. 

Completed Engagement

In the summer of 2024 the community provided feedback on how the spray pad adjustments improved water efficiency and if they changed the user experience as part of the Summer Play Program Survey. Engagement feedback, along with best practice research and internal City considerations will help us improve spray pads throughout the City. 

Please visit this page for future engagement opportunities or use the following methods to reach out to the project team. 

Contact Us 

Comments and questions can also be provided by email, telephone, or mail using the contact information below.  

What is the Project About? 

While spray pads provide valuable services to the community, such as providing free recreational opportunities and areas to cool down, they make up 13% of the total water use in facilities and operations. Water use at these facilities has steadily increased due to rising and prolonged hot weather conditions. Past feedback from the Water Conservation Strategy, showed that 93% of community and industry participants support the City in maximizing water efficiency of spray pads, paddling pools and pools.

The City is taking the lead to conserve water by improving water use and efficiency in our spray pad facilities. Two pilot projects were conducted in 2023 and 2024 at five spray pads by using a combination of misters and low-flow nozzles to see how much savings in water use can be realized.

Results:

• 2023 - 24% water reduction, 6.4M litres, $24,000 saved, 2.7 tonnes CO2e avoided
• 2024 – 41% water reduction, 17.9M litres, $52,000 saved, 7.7 tonnes CO2e avoided
• No noticeable change to user experience.

Why Are We Doing This Work?

A changing climate and aging water treatment infrastructure are risks to our water system by increasing water consumption and reducing our efficiency. Water conservation can help ensure that we can meet the community’s water needs in the long term, even with a growing population. In 2022, City Council passed the Water Conservation Strategy, providing a roadmap of actions that will help reduce water use in the community and in the City’s own operations.

The Strategy is founded upon four main reasons for conserving water:

1. Help households and business moderate their water use.
2. The pressing need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Increase water system resiliency and prepare for a changing climate.
4. ​​​​​​​Help manage water demand to ease the strain on the City’s water system.