Athletes can finally drink the water at Upper Tantallon sports arena

Thirsty athletes and sports fans no longer have to carry in their own water to the St. Margaret's Centre in Upper Tantallon now that water at the sports arena has been deemed safe to drink.  

"Lot of happy campers, lot of happy athletes that can fill their water bottles now after 13 grueling months," said Michael Leroux, general manager at the centre.

The water was contaminated with minute levels of lead 210, a radioactive form of the metal. While the risk to the public was low, signs were put up on arena water fountains warning people not to drink from them.

Water for the centre is provided by two wells and a water catchment system on the roof. The naturally occurring lead was stirred up by the centre's massive daily water use, said Leroux. 

A new reverse osmosis machine installed at the center is successfully filtering out lead 210 from the water. Leroux estimates the total cost of the upgraded system is more than $100,000.

Halifax Water did the testing and the provincial Environment Department lifted the ban on the centre.

The reverse osmosis system filters 5,000 litres of water a day that flows to the arena's fountains and showers, and is used to flood the ice and fill Zambonis. 

Reverse osmosis machine should last 20 years

Installation of the new system was supposed to be finished last summer. But Leroux said it was a lengthy process to get the money in place for the new water system at the centre, which is owned by the Halifax Regional Municipality. 

"It was very important that everybody worked together and that the right system be designed and installed," said Leroux.

Atlantica Mechanical was the main contractor tasked with installing the new system, which was completed in early November, slightly less than a year after the water was first deemed unfit.

The new system can also remove radon contamination from the water. Leroux said the reverse osmosis machine should last at least 20 years.