Falling for our faux waterfall

In a city deeply split over the merits of a new downtown arena and with a proven predisposition to differ starkly over everything from public transit to airport lands to the starting lineup of the Edmonton Eskimos, there is surprisingly little division when it comes to the Great Divide Waterfall. Almost everyone is fond of Edmonton’s giant water feature. This week came heartening news that the waterfall on the High Level Bridge, a sorrowful dry gulch these past three years, could soon flow again. The spigots have been shut off since August 2009 over concerns about the environmental impact of the chlorinated water it spilled into the river. City officials had become concerned the chlorine levels from all that tap water might be in violation of the federal Fisheries Act.

The costs of installing and maintaining a dechlorination system appear prohibitive, but the prospects of converting to raw river water seem promising, particularly now that this option has been endorsed by North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper Glenn Isaac. Phillip Walker, who was the city’s drainage manager when the landmark project opened 12 years ago, also turned up at a meeting of council’s executive committee Wednesday to urge that the waterfall be restored. Switching to river water would require a $2-million expenditure for the pump and intake system — a not inconsiderable water bill that the committee will send on to council as part of its fall budget deliberations.

Walker described the cascade, which used to rain down into the river for several hours at a time, four or five times a year, as “part of Edmonton’s fabric.”

The Edmonton Arts Council is also strongly on board with the river water conversion, as it should be, inasmuch as the waterfall has long been the city’s biggest and most accessible public art installation.

Mayor Stephen Mandel senses, on this issue at least, that most Edmontonians are in favour of restoring the falls. “People want the waterfall,” he said. “They want to see the waterfall.”

Back in 1978, when artist Peter Lewis first proposed a waterfall across the High Level, a Journal article described the idea as “ambitious to be sure. And crazy in a way. And completely marvellous.” It took Lewis awhile to put the project together — with the help of $100,000 in provincial money and $500,000 more in donations of time and equipment — but when the waterfall finally sprung to life on Sept. 1, 1980, as a grand 75th birthday present for the province of Alberta, it proved marvellous indeed.

Wouldn’t it be fitting to turn the taps on again in time to showcase the High Level Bridge’s 100th birthday next year?