City of Victoria installs aluminium misting stations to keep the heat at bay

Heatwaves across the City of Victoria are making people find solutions to beat the heat. From planting trees to installing misting stations, the city is doing every bit to stay cool. Currently, around 13 misting stations have been installed across the city.

The new stations are solid aluminium, stand close to six feet tall, and contain water bottle-filling taps. A cooling water mist is dispensed by pressing a button. This year's misting stations are an upgrade over last year's, which were constructed of plastic and attached to fire hydrants as part of the city's severe heat response plan.

Aluminium is one of the most sustainable and recyclable materials on the earth. Recycling aluminium serves current and future generations by preserving energy and other natural resources. Aluminium is the second most extensively used metal in contemporary society, after steel. Due to its varied features, it has experienced substantial growth in transportation, construction, packaging, and electrical engineering usage.

According to Colleen Mycroft, city spokesperson, the new stations are partially supported by a $65,000 grant from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities to create public cooling infrastructure. Tanya Seal-Jones, emergency programme co-ordinator, said the designs were inspired by misting equipment now in use in Vancouver.

According to Mycroft, the city will also have personnel giving free spray bottles, water bottles, electrolytes, and sunscreen at the Cook Street Village Activity Centre and James Bay United Church in case of a heat warning or an extreme heat emergency response this summer.