Using recycled water to create ice is just the latest in water-saving efforts at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif.
When is the last time it rained in Southern California? Richard Vartigian, director of Operations at Citizens Business Bank Arena, said he doesn’t remember more than a few drops here and there.
Yet, at least 72 times per year, his arena uses thousands of gallons of water to create an ice surface for its ECHL (an equivalent league to Double-A in baseball) team the Ontario Reign. The eight-year-old rink requires millions more gallons for air conditioning, an absolute must in a climate with average high temperatures in the 90s for at least three months out of the year.
Recently, the lack of rain has ravaged So-Cal, with an estimated 58 percent of the state in “exceptional” drought. The state has implemented regulations such as a ban on watering outdoor landscapes that cause runoff and using potable water in decorative fountains.
Just over a year ago, Vartigian decided there was much more his arena could do to use water more efficiently.
“Myself and head engineer Kelly White, we look at water consumption at the arena every year and where the majority of fresh water is being consumed,” he said. “A lot of it was in our cooling towers. We thought: is there a way to supply cooling towers with recycled water?”
Prior to last hockey season, they began a project to use water from a 3-inch recycle-water line to replenish the towers.
“We were wasting so much water cooling our building,” Vartigian said. “Especially during the eight months of our hockey season where the chillers and cooling towers just run and run and run. We could see all the burnoff and the gallons of water that we were using were astronomical.”
After touring a local water recycling plant, they discovered the only major difference between clean water and recycled water is its concentration of chlorine. So the city-owned venue, which is operated by AEG, got right to work, teaming up with the Ontario Water Department and Department of Health to gain approval to use the water for other purposes than just irrigation.
In the first 10 days of using the revamped tower system, the arena used 85,000 gallons of recycled water.
With thousands of gallons of water being saved per year on the cooling towers, Vartigian and White turned their attention to another glaring water waster: The ice.
“If we can do it for the towers, why can’t we do it for the other water consuming entity?” He said. “We are constantly maintaining the ice, shaving it down, flooding, all that. We are a minor league facility, so the team has to practice here, they don’t have the money to have an off-site practice facility.”
Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario converts to ice at least 72 times per year.
The arena, which has also hosted Los Angeles Lakers preseason games as well as soccer and indoor football, became the first in the United States to utilize recycled water for its ice surface. It is not, however, the only form of water conservation to create ice. Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre, for example, uses rain water.
Vartigian said the use of recycled water is costing Citizens Business Bank Arena approximately half of the price of using fresh water. Per So-Cal regulations, the arena is allotted a certain number of gallons before incurring penalties, which jack up dollars spent significantly. There is no penalty when using recycled water, no matter how much they use.
"Besides the local water saving benefits that Citizens Business Bank Arena will achieve by recycling water to make ice, literally millions of gallons annually,” added Allen Hershkowitz, Ph.D. and Senior Scientist, with the Natural Resources Defense Council and Co-Founder of the Green Sports Alliance. “The market and cultural visibility of the arena will inspire businesses and fans throughout the region to conserve water as well."
Since implementing the two systems, arena staff has been tracking savings using what they call “Ecometrics.” They estimate around five million gallons of water will be saved each year.
The most recent changes to improve the arena’s footprint on the environment are not the only ones CBBA has made since opening in 2008. They have also utilized waterless urinals and low-flow faucets as well as used recycled water for cleaning of trucks and equipment and cut back on use of the aforementioned irrigation system. The arena estimates it has cut its water consumption by 48 percent since 2009.
While the arena project was headed by Vartigian, AEG has made it a priority to reduce their facilities’ impacts on the environment through their 1Earth program. They have created reports and target goals for reducing energy and water usage and educating employees.
Vartigian said many other arenas around the country are improving how they use water – the arena has received inquiries on how to duplicate their two projects.
“It’s gotten a lot of buzz,” he said. “The water conservation efforts, especially here, are becoming more important. They are on everyone’s mind, they are on your homepage, on the morning and evening news. We like to think we are making a difference.”
Interviewed for this story: Allen Hershkowitz, (212) 727-2700; Rich Vartigian, (909) 244-5500
