Edmonton Oilers Fans Are Causing a Toilet Rush During Playoff Games
In a testament to the die-hard fandom of Edmonton Oilers fans, the city’s water utility provider, EPCOR, has noticed a peculiar trend during playoff games: a spike in water usage during intermissions.
“Over the first series of playoffs, we were seeing spikes in intermissions of water use,” said Vicki Campbell, director of EPCOR water treatment plants.
During the L.A. Kings series, EPCOR saw a spike of 40 megalitres, which doubled to 80 megalitres during the Vancouver Canucks series. The most recent game saw the spike reach 120 megalitres between the first and second overtime periods.
“So, everyone was holding it and probably couldn’t hold it anymore, is our theory,” Campbell said.
EPCOR employees, many of whom are Oilers fans themselves, noticed the trend while analyzing water usage data during games. The data showed huge spikes in usage between periods, which is unusual for typical water usage patterns.
“We don’t usually see everyone going at once like that,” Campbell said.
While the spikes in demand can be challenging for the water system, EPCOR is now aware of the trend and is making preparations to handle the increased flow.
“Our operators are now, at the end of period, ramping up the pumps now and expecting it…. They’re making sure there’s enough water moved around the system, they’re making sure the pumps are ramped up to enough of a speed to handle the flow and so now they’re on to the trends of the city,” Campbell said.
Campbell added that it would be easier on the system if the Oilers won in regulation time, but acknowledged that fans have the right to use the bathroom when they need to.
“We’re not going to tell people when they can and cannot go, but it would be easier on our pumps if we won during regular time.”
The trend of increased water usage during sporting events is not new, with similar spikes observed during the Super Bowl, Olympic hockey, and even Elks games. However, the current trend during Oilers playoff games is surpassing previous levels.
Campbell emphasized that the situation does not pose a risk of running out of water in Edmonton.
