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

Completed Engagement

This summer, 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. A project focused on seven spray pads using a combination of misters and low-flow nozzles will be initiated in the coming weeks to reduce water use.

These seven spray pads are in the following neighbourhoods: 

• Briarwood
• Evergreen
• Hampton Village
• Pleasant Hill
• River Heights
• Stonebridge
• Willowgrove 

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.