Elmsdale's aquatic centre was built to withstand once-in-a-century storms. Then the rain hit
CBC
The East Hants Aquatic Centre in Elmsdale, N.S., is set to reopen almost a year after massive flooding shut it down, but it's unclear why the facility was overwhelmed and how much the repairs will cost.
The two-level building features a pool and community room on the main floor, while the basement houses the mechanical and electrical systems.
The flooding happened when parts of Nova Scotia were hit with a near-historic amount of rainfall last summer, with some areas receiving as much as 250 millimetres over one weekend.
Stormwater entered the East Hants Aquatic Centre on both floors. The upper level had a few inches of stormwater, while the basement had several feet, according to a post on the Municipality of East Hants website. This caused "major damage" to the building's main electrical and mechanical systems.
"We are working with ... engineers and experts to really understand the chain of events," said Alana Tapper, the director of parks, recreation and culture for the municipality.
The extent of the damage was surprising given the facility only opened in 2020.
While heavy rainfall was the major cause of the flooding, Tapper said improper drainage from the parking lot and nearby Highway 102 was another factor. The building is located close to exit 8 of the highway.
CBC meteorologist Ryan Snoddon said 175 to 250 millimetres of rain fell in Elmsdale, mostly within a 12-hour period.
Tapper said the building's systems were designed to accommodate storms classified as happening every 100 years, but said the amount of rainfall that fell last July 21-22 was about 140 per cent of that capacity.
Once water retreated inside the building, the equipment had to be cleaned and assessed. Not all of it could be salvaged.
"Electrical would have been pretty predominantly replacement, whereas some of the other pieces like pool filtration ... would have been refurbishment," she said.
Asked if sewage entered the facility, Tapper said she "can't speak to all of those pieces."
The centre is expected to reopen July 10. Tapper said long wait times for getting some of the specialized equipment is why it's taken almost a year to reopen.
Tapper said she didn't have a cost estimate for what's been completed to date or an expected final bill. She said some of the costs will be paid by insurance coverage. As well, she said the municipality received a $570,000 grant from the province to help with the repairs through the strategic funding initiative, which provides one-time funding to projects that are significant to communities.
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