We are inviting you to take the plunge this Family Day with free public swimming at select City of Calgary operated pools. Every splash is supported by a dedicated team working hard behind the scenes to ensure our pools are safe, clean and ready for you to enjoy. That’s exactly what Madison, a Calgary student, discovered when she embarked on a mission to uncover the science of pool water safety for her grade 7 science fair. Fascinated by how bacteria thrive in different conditions, she wanted to understand how pool water is treated to prevent bacteria growth.Her journey led her to Village Square Leisure Centre, uncovering the science and the incredible efforts that keep our pools pristine. Every time you plunge into a pool, a complex dance of science and dedication is at play to ensure every swim is as safe as it is refreshing.“Our team is committed, highly invested and take great pride in the daily maintenance of our facilities,” says Bruce Ottway, recreation team lead. “With countless swimmers diving in and out every day, keeping them safe is a full-time job and one that we take very seriously. Pools must meet Alberta regulations, standards and requirements for safe operation at all times, no matter how busy we are. And with a capacity of 650 guests, we can get really busy.” “I reached out to The City because I knew they had the resources to help me with my project,” says Madison. “I was very happy when I was greeted by kind people and provided the information I needed for my project.”Bruce invited to take Madison behind the scenes to show her how we ensure pool water remains safe despite the constant activity.  “When I first saw that Madison had submitted a request to discuss her science fair project, I jumped at the opportunity to showcase Village Square Leisure Centre.”Up first was a tour of the basement that houses the high-efficiency boiler system, designed to maximize energy efficiency by capturing and reusing heat and maintain the water temperature around 29-30 degrees. Although this range is ideal for swimmer comfort, preventing bacteria growth in pool water relies on more than just temperature control alone.A liquid chlorine system is used to disinfect the water park that spans approximately 225,000 square feet. This system uses sodium hypochlorite to sanitize the water by killing bacteria and other harmful microorganisms. Additionally, a sophisticated filtration system that removes physical debris and microorganisms from the water is designed to clean the entire volume of water nine times every eight hours, handling around eight million litres in 24 hours. To put this into perspective, it’s like emptying and refilling about 50,480 bathtubs daily.Next, Bruce introduced Madison to the team who continuously test and monitor the water quality parameters that help maintain a safe environment every four hours. Maintaining pH levels is essential to balance chlorine effectiveness and swimmer comfort.“Bruce answered all of my questions about the filtration system and how it works,” Madison shares. “I feel very comfortable in City pools. The staff clearly care about the quality of water as it is tested multiple times a day and corrected at even the slightest change in cleanliness.”“Our standards for each City of Calgary swimming pool surpass even the highest monitoring requirements, ensuring unparalleled safety and cleanliness. We are dedicated to providing an environment where our guests can confidently enjoy our facilities every day, knowing their well-being is our top priority,” says Bruce.  This Family Day, make a splash - on us!We’re offering free public swimming on Feb. 17 from 1-2:30 p.m. and 3-4:30 p.m. at these locations:·       Acadia Aquatic & Fitness Centre (9009 Fairmount Dr. S.E.)·       Bob Bahan Aquatic & Fitness Centre (4812 14 Ave. S.E.)·       Thornhill Aquatic & Recreation Centre (6715 Centre St. N.W.)Good times with friends and family are good for everyone.