The City of Medicine Hat is bringing back its water bottle fill stations this year. (CHAT News File Photo)

By Chris Brown

City’s seasonal water bottle fill stations back for good

May 25, 2023 | 10:10 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Saying the pilot project in 2022 to provide safe accessible drinking water to the public was a resounding success, the City of Medicine Hat is making water bottle fill stations a permanent seasonal feature.

There will be 10 stations installed for 2023 including downtown, in parks and along the city’s trail system. The full list is below.

Installation of the stations has already begun and preliminary water samples are being sent away for testing. The city expects to get the results back next week. The stations, built onto existing fire hydrants, will be bagged and unavailable for use until test results confirm safe water quality.

After the stations debuted last year, the city conducted a poll on the its Shape Your City page, with 90 per cent of respondents wanting to see the program continue each summer. In the more in-depth survey, 47.9 per cent of respondents wanted the program to continue even if it meant increased fees, and 37.5 per cent said it depended on how much it will cost.

The final cost per unit $1,300, according to the city, and the total cost of the water to supply the program, including the water used for flushing and testing, was just over $550. The program will not impact any resident rates or fees as the costs will be absorbed in the city assets operating budget.

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Last year the stations delivered the equivalent of 118,000 one-litre bottles of water to thirsty residents and pets, says the city in a news release.

“We considered the pilot to be a resounding success,” said Pat Bohan, director of city assets. “We made modifications to the equipment, like adding a timer to automatically flush the hydrants periodically, and laid gravel around areas that were prone to becoming muddy. But we’re happy to report this program is here to stay.”

The city assures the public the water in the fire hydrants is the same treated, potable drinking water distributed to businesses and households, and undergoes rigorous testing to ensure it continues to be safe to drink.

Each station is designed to only allow freefall into a water bottle, cup or bowl and people are not able to drink directly from the spout, reducing the risk of contamination. Each of the 10 stations are disinfected weekly.

The water may be warm or discoloured when the tap is first opened especially on hot, sunny days and the city recommends running the water for a short time before filling a bottle to ensure it is an enjoyable temperature to drink. Timers have been installed to automatically flush water at defined intervals to help keep the water at an acceptable drinking temperature.

Station locations

• Big Marble Go Centre at 2000 Division Avenue NW
• Jeffries Trail near 602 4 Avenue NE
• East edge of Parkview Close NE
• City Hall at 580 First Street SE
• Towne Square at 603 First Street SE
• Strathcona Island Park near the Heritage Pavilion
• Carry Drive Trail near 78 Carter Crescent SE
• Saamis Rotary Park
• South Ridge Trail near 4803 Southlands Drive SE (by Masterpiece Southland Meadows)
• South Boundary Road SE behind Home Depot

The stations can easily be found by looking for the blue water droplet dots on the city’s iMap at medicinehat.ca/iMap.