An arena is closed in St.Catharines for emergency repairs.
The Bill Burgoyne Arena is closed effective immediately for repairs to its brine distribution system.
When City staff installed the ice at the arena this fall they noticed a small leak in the pipe for its brine distribution system.
Staff put plans in place to repair the leak but the pipe burst before repairs could be completed.
The pipe burst today just after midnight, resulting in the failure of the brine distribution system.
Repairs to the brine distribution system will begin this weekend.
The arena could be open to the public in as soon as three weeks, but a definitive timeline will not be known until the repair work begins.
The brine distribution system uses a salt water mixture to cool the ice pad and remove heat from the pad.
The solution poses no health risk and the burst pipe is no longer leaking.
City staff have begun to contact affected user groups to make alternate arrangements for their bookings.
All public skating at Bill Burgoyne Arena has been cancelled.
Public skating is still available at the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre and the Garden City Arena Complex. The pubic skating schedule is available at www.stcatharines.ca/Skating or by calling 905.688.5600.