Beaconsfield arena safe for public use
Nearly two weeks after the Beaconsfield Arena was temporarily closed due to a Legionella contamination, Mayor Georges Bourelle says the facility is once gain safe to enter.
However, the municipal rink will remain closed until May 23 while the city conducts its regular spring maintenance.
The arena was shut down April 7 after tests came out positive for Legionella contamination.
The city announced the closure after a certified independent laboratory informed the city that water samples taken from the arena’s evaporative condenser provided test results indicating higher than normal levels of the Legionella bacteria.
The city then shut down the arena condenser, a process that led to the ice melting.
Bourelle said the potential health problem was quickly addressed.
“It only took two or three days to flush it out and clean it out, and do all that was needed to be done to get rid of the bacteria,” he said.
“The reason we closed (the arena) it till May 23 is because, at the time, we were just about to do the planned (annual spring) maintenance. We said, ‘there’s no point in opening the arena for a couple of days.’ That’s why it seems to be closed a long time.”
Legionella contamination can possibly lead to Legionnaires’ disease, a bacterial pneumonia. Symptoms include fever, cough and headache.
Bourelle said he hasn’t been made aware of anyone becoming ill as a result of Legionella bacteria from the arena’s condenser.
“We caught it in time. (The bacteria) was elevated but probably not at a point you would consider highly critical. It was elevated, and given the fact Legionella is a very dangerous and deadly bacteria, we didn’t want to take any chances.”
The rest of Beaconsfield Recreation Centre, located at 1974 City Lane, remains open.
“It hasn’t affected any other part of the recreation centre,” Bourelle said. “The pool and gym areas and all the other rooms used by the public are open.”
Given the fact Legionella is a very dangerous and deadly bacteria, we didn’t want to take any chances.