Future of great divide waterfall uncertain

The great divide waterfall on the High Level Bridge.

EDMONTON - An Edmonton favorite is on the chopping block as the budget debate continues at City Hall. 

Under the current proposed the budget, the great divide waterfall on the High Level Bridge be eliminated. 

The feature falls under the city's corporate communications branch, and the waterfall budget is one of several reductions that are planned for the department in an effort to find savings. 

"I want to make sure we think about it," Councilor Ben Henderson said, "And we talk about it, and it just doesn't go for a lack of interest. I have asked for a report to come back so we can actually look at what's possible and what's not possible, and make a decision."

In 2009 the feature came under review because treated water is used and concerns arose about the impact of mass amounts of chlorinated water to the river. 

The waterfall has not been in operation since that time. 

"It jumped out at me in the books," Henderson says, "It makes perfect sense to cut the money out of the budget this year if we can't turn it on. Why on earth would we put operating money into something we can't use? But i think the bigger question is whether we will walk away from it permanently or not."

As the budget debate continues, based on motions on the table the tax hike is at 6.41%. 

This is simply a floating number. No decisions have been made on the operating side of what should be cut and what should be saved. 

The waterfall was constructed in 1980 to commemorate Alberta's 75th anniversary.