Three public water stations in the City of Selkirk will make sure people, and their pets, can stay hydrated during the heat of the summer.
One is installed at the Waterfront; another is at the Kin Centre near Water Tower Park and the third will be installed mid-August in Selkirk Park – all can be accessed 24 hours a day during the summer months.
Kristy Hill, Director of Protective Services, says the stations ensure everyone has access to a clean, safe and sustainable source of drinking water during the hotter months of the year.
“The water is easily accessible in these three high traffic areas and it’s free for citizens to use,” Hill said.
“They are bottle fill stations, so just bring your bottle and fill up. There’s also a dog water station at each one.”
Helping citizens deal with extreme weather events
Installation of the stations was driven by the city’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Downtown Selkirk Renewal Strategy.
The City of Selkirk partnered with the University of Winnipeg’s Prairie Climate Centre (PCC) to create its award-winning Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. The strategy sets out a 10-year plan to make the city a more climate resilient community. One of the 12 tactics identified in the strategy is to establish policies and practices to help citizens deal with extreme weather events.
“The city has identified heat stress as one of the community’s top consequences of climate change within its Climate Change Adaptation Strategy,” said Mihali Schindle, the city’s Manager of Climate Action and Environmental Services.
“As we have seen throughout North America, heat domes and extended periods of hot weather are becoming more intense and frequent. Selkirk is expected to experience a similar increase in days above 30 degrees Celsius as well as what are known as “tropical nights” where the temperature does not drop below 20 degrees. These events create significant health risks to citizens.
“These water stations provide an accessible and convenient way for citizens to stay hydrated when out in the community during hot weather. Staying hydrated is an important step in preventing heat stress. This is particularly true for people who may be more susceptible to heat stress, like young children, people 65 years and older, those with pre-existing heart and lung illnesses and those who may not have access to air conditioning,”.
Fresh, clean water during the hot summer months
The stations feature a built-in water bowl for four-legged citizens who may need to quench their thirst on a hot day and provide an accessible place for vulnerable populations to get clean, fresh water during the hot summer months to help prevent heat exhaustion.
The stations align with Selkirk’s Community Strategic Plan that calls for continued development of the city’s natural features and outdoor spaces and improvement of city practices and services.
The stations are for summer use only and will be removed by city staff in the fall and returned again next summer.
