Heather Latter
The Township of Emo recently agreed to purchased a $36,000 ultraviolet light (UV) for the Emo Spray Park so it would be able to open this summer.
“Apparently it’s mandatory to have it,” noted Mayor Vince Sheppard.
“Without it, you can’t guarantee safety of the people using it,” he explained. “So really it’s a safety issue.”
According to the Public Health Protection and Prevention Branch of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, when water is re-circulated, such as that in the spray park, it must be treated with a UV light “capable of rendering cysts and oocysts inactive before water enters the spray/splash pads.”
The water also must be first filtered, chemically disinfected with either chlorine or bromine, and retained in a storage tank for an appropriate period of time to allow effective disinfection to occur.
The UV light is the fourth step of the treatment process, but considered the primary disinfection activity to ensure recreational water is free of micro-organisms.
It protects against the transmission of waterborne disease outbreaks, such as cryptosporidiosis (a diarrheal disease), which has been associated with spray parks in the recent past.
Mayor Sheppard said the township wasn’t aware this step of the treatment process was required when constructing the spray park back in 2010.
“But you can’t take a chance on safety like that,” he stressed.
He noted council discussed it and finally determined the spray park wouldn’t open if they didn’t purchase the UV light, so they went ahead and ordered it.
“A lot of volunteers have put a lot of time and money into the spray park,” Mayor Sheppard remarked.
“It wouldn’t be something that we would want to say, for that part, we aren’t going to run it,” he added, saying he also thinks the spray park is a good thing for the community.
“There might be some people who don’t use it but still, as a whole, it is an asset,” he said. “People from other communities come to use it, so it brings people to see the town.”
Mayor Sheppard indicated while the township has a budget for maintenance of the spray park, the cost of the UV light was much more than it anticipated—and it was a cost that came “out of the blue.”
He said they looked for less-expensive UV lights, but the ones they found either were not for commercial use or not compatible with their system.
So they had to purchase the piece from the company that originally supplied the spray park equipment.
Mayor Sheppard said they hope to hold a fundraiser to help with the cost of the UV light, and will accept donations from any individuals or community groups interested in helping out.
The UV light is not scheduled to arrive for another few weeks. And while the township hopes to have the spray park open by June 15, Mayor Sheppard warned that opening for the season may be delayed depending on when the piece of equipment arrives and how long it takes to install.
Meanwhile, Emo council also is considering other ways to keep the spray park clean and problem-free this season.
Last summer saw the filters routinely being clogged by grass clippings and sand.
The township is looking at ways to ensure children can wash their feet before entering the spray park area.
It also plans to have the “little house” open more often this summer to provide people at the spray park with refreshments and cool treats.
For more information about the Emo Spray Park, contact the township office at 482-2378.
