A plan to restart the waterfall off the High Level Bridge took a big step forward Wednesday, despite a long debate over whether to use raw river water or dechlorinated tap water.
Using river water could cost up to $2 million for the pump and intake system, but ongoing costs would be lower.
It’s an “environmentally friendly system that celebrates the river and High Level Bridge,” said David Turnbull, public art preservationist with the Edmonton Arts Council.
The arts council is researching that option, and has the support of North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper Glenn Isaac.
Using river water would celebrate how much cleaner the North Saskatchewan River has become since the waterfall was first built in 1980, said Isaac. “Our river is clean. Our river is full of life. Our river is vital, and our river can have river water that is pumped over the bridge.”
The Great Divide Waterfall was designed to pump 40,000 litres a minute from nozzles all along the bridge. The water rained down 63 metres into the river for several hours at a time, four or five times a year, and was often lit with coloured lights.
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The taps were shut off in August 2009. The city was using tap water, and officials were worried the chorine levels exceeded those allowed under the federal Fisheries Act.
On Wednesday, members of the executive committee voted unanimously to prepare a funding package for the waterfall to be debated as part of the fall budget deliberations.
City staff will work with the Edmonton Arts Council to determine exactly how much using raw river water would cost, and if that’s a better option than the $735,000 dechlorination system city staff have already researched.
Dechlorination would also cost about $40,000 a year for ongoing operations and maintenance.
Phillip Walker, who was the city drainage manager when the waterfall was first built, urged council to restore it. It was a gift from the province and many private donors, he said. “It’s part of Edmonton’s fabric.”
Mayor Stephen Mandel said 90 per cent of the people who have contacted his office on this issue have been in favour of restoring the falls. “People want the waterfall. They want to see the waterfall. They want to see it work.”
If council decides to use dechlorinated water, the waterfall could be operational by Canada Day 2013. If they use natural river water, constructing a pumphouse and river intake will require federal approval, which could add another year to the timeline, said Latta.
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