The splash pad at Beckwith Park is back in operation — temporarily — as the District of Saanich works to determine whether the water that goes down the drain is harming the environment downstream.
The splash pad will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Saanich closed the splash pad after discovering that the water was being discharged into the storm drain system, making its way into the watershed and eventually, Colquitz Creek.
Eva Ruccius, senior manager of parks for the District of Saanich, said the system is almost 25 years old. “The current standard would see the water either being recirculated, treated or sent down the sewage system.”
She said that there were no concerns about human health but, out of an abundance of caution, the district needed to determine the environmental impact, if any, of the discharged water.
“The temporary opening will allow staff to take water samples downstream, get them tested and obtain advice from professionals as to next steps,” she said.
The Beckwith splash pad will close again Tuesday so staff can evaluate the test results.
A similar issue was also discovered at Rutledge Park, leading to the temporary closure of that splash pad only a few weeks after its grand opening.
The Rutledge splash pad has since returned to its regular hours — but only if it’s not raining.
Ruccius explains that the weather-related closure is because rain would add to the volume of water discharged.
The issue came to light “only by happenchance” as the district was performing an unrelated investigation.
“Once we became aware of it, we were bound to do due diligence to protect the environment,” she said.
Updates on the splash pads will be posted at saanich.ca.
