The City of Leduc is joining the call for people to avoid using storm ponds as ice rinks.
“We want to let the public know that they should refrain from ice skating or walking on storm water ponds in the city,” Gerard MacNeil, manager of enforcement services, said.
“When they are open for winter activities, the Civic Centre ponds are the only exception.”
Leduc stressed it has 13 ice skating services available – and safe – for public use. Officials are asking residents to stay off storm water ponds, explaining they’re “not safe for walking or skating.”
In a news release, the City of Leduc explained why it doesn’t allow skating on storm water ponds:
- Fluctuating water levels that may not freeze solid;
- In 2014, there were five incidences of people falling through the ice at storm water ponds;
- Even when ice measures an acceptable thickness, children have fallen through the ice;
- Enforcement on storm water ponds poses a safety risk to City of Leduc staff.
The City of Edmonton said Edmonton Fire Rescue Services pulled people from storm water ice three times in 2015.
READ MORE: On thin ice: Scientists study safety of skating on urban storm water ponds
For the past two winters, a group of University of Alberta researchers has studied the safety of skating on urban storm water ponds.
So far the study has confirmed what most municipalities already know: ice thickness on small suburban lakes is not as certain as ice that forms on natural water bodies. It’s constantly changing as
runoff and drainage water flows through the ponds all year.
The City of Edmonton requested the study, environmental engineering professor Mark Loewen said, since skating on storm-water ponds is somewhat of a touchy issue. Signs posted at city ponds warn against skating on them, but many people do it anyway.
Wendy Laskosky with the city’s drainage department said warning letters are sometimes sent to residents in neighbourhoods where staff find rinks on storm-water ponds. As the city grows and more ponds are built, skating on them will become more of a concern, she suggested.
“We’re concerned for public safety and we’re not sure where the ice is thin.”
With files from Chris Purdy, The Canadian Press
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