Manitoba Project Targets Using Recylced Water for Ice Rinks

It's possible that hockey players in Winnipeg may find themselves skating on recycled waste water, if all goes to plan.

The project is starting at Winnipeg's Dakota Community Centre, but if it is successful, the project could spread throughout the province, The Canadian Press reports.The Dakota Community Centre spends roughly $35,000 every year on water and uses 450 liters hourly.

Jacques Levesque, general manager of the targeted rink, compared the process to using snow water for rinks since "there is a lot of junk" in snow water.

"It's sad to see so much water just being poured out to waste," he said. "The water that is being thrown out is unbelievable. … It would be great to be able to recycle that water. Hopefully it will set a precedent for a lot of other hockey rinks."

"I think it's terrific," Christine Melnick, the water stewardship minister, said. "If we can do this shower-water-to-rinks, there are curling rinks all over the province. There are certainly skating rinks all over the province. Let's put it out as hopefully being a success and work with local communities."

While the outlook might be positive for hockey, the project might not be feasible for curling rinks. Retired curler Ray Turnbull said the chemicals would create a rough ice surface, which the sport cannot be played on.