Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK
January 02, 2019 - 2:00 PM
VERNON - When you break a sweat inside the steam room at the Vernon Aquatic Centre you'll have to leave to get a drink of water.
The city implemented a "no water bottle" rule for the steam room in the rec centre in mid-December. The rule requires patrons to leave their water bottle on a ledge outside the room.
Manager Gary Lefebvre said the new rule is designed for safety and mechanical reasons. He said the steam had to shut down several times in 2018 due to sensor malfunctions caused by water damage.
Lefebvre said when people pour water on the elements in the steam room, the sensors become tricked into thinking the room is cooler than its actual temperature. The sensors overcompensate by producing more steam than necessary, which in turn damages the room and causes a shutdown.
"We're hoping people will drink water outside the room to avoid further mechanical shutdowns," he said.
Lefebvre said the steam room has experienced no technical problems since the rule was implemented. The city plans to monitor the room and see if additional measures are needed to ensure users' safety.
"Any rule we implement is for the benefit of (our patrons)," he said.
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