New guidelines from the province, means that wading pools are closing earlier! (booo!)

As temperatures soar into the high 30s this week, many of the city’s wading pools are closing an hour earlier because of new water treatment rules from the province.

The guidelines – meant to “assist in the prevention and reduction of water-borne illness” – say wading pools must be drained after four hours, which means many operating on a five-hour schedule don’t bother reopening.

Though not binding, the city has chosen to follow the recommendations, Fletcher said, which has affected five wading pools in her ward alone since the beginning of July.

“Implementation of [the] new Ministry of Health guidance document at Toronto’s 100-plus wading pools means less paddling hours, and less fun, for thousands of kids this summer,” she said in a statement.

Fletcher, a member of the board of health, says the city’s wading pools already operate under strict conditions – testing chlorine levels every hour and draining and cleaning pools when required.

She has sent letters to Ontario’s Minster of Health and Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health asking them to be flexible and set the drainage back one hour.

“It may seem like a small thing,” Fletcher said. “But it is a 20 per cent cut to summer fun for thousands of Toronto’s youngest citizens, many of whom don’t leave the city in the summer and use our wading pools as a major part of their summer activity.”

For a list of the city’s wading pools, swimming pools and splash pads, click here.