Dundee’s Ice Arena will have almost two million gallons of water supplied by a company serving the south east of England following a new money-saving deal.
Thames Water is expected to supply the Camperdown Leisure Park venue with enough to fill around 11 Olympic-sized swimming pools or around 335,000 bathtubs over the course of the three-year agreement.
Ice Arena general manager Alex Cram said he had already identified significant benefits for both his business and customers since the start of the contract in January.
“We use almost two million gallons of water a year so any savings we can make on the cost of our supply is going to be significant,” he said.
“With the deal we have done with Thames Water to be our supplier for the next three years we are making a five per cent saving on our water costs.”
The 2,300-seat Ice Arena, which is home to Elite Ice Hockey League side Dundee CCS Stars and also hosts figure skating, speed skating and curling, is to be taken over by charitable trust Leisure and Culture Dundee in the coming weeks as part of a move designed to secure its future.
Fears were raised last year after it emerged city councillors had used a meeting held in private to back plans for £80,000 in debts due to the local authority to be written off.
But the arena has long depended on council support for its budget, with the management fee for the present financial year set at £281,000.
Arms-length organisation Leisure and Culture Dundee already runs the Olympia swimming pool, Dundee International Sports Centre and the Camperdown and Caird Park golf courses, as well as cultural attractions including The McManus and Caird Hall.
Businesses in Scotland have been able to choose from a string of suppliers since the commercial water market was deregulated in April 2008 but Thames became the latest to move north of the border with the opening of an Edinburgh office last year.
The step comes ahead of deregulation in England and Wales, which is expected in 2017. In time, the rule change is likely to create a UK-wide business water supply market similar to the present competitive situation with electricity and gas firms.
Although the vast network of pipes and sewers remains under the control of Scottish Water, which acts as a wholesaler, there are currently 13 suppliers with licences to sell water and wastewater services to businesses in Scotland including Scottish Water subsidiary Business Stream.
The Edinburgh Hotel Collection and Queensferry Hotels are amongst the other organisations making the switch to Thames Water. The group’s core business currently serves more than 15 million customers in London and the Thames Valley.