Technical Corner

August 24, 2026

Public release of testing by Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), along with affiliated reports, has prompted inquiries from ORFA members to ask whether ORFA has had any direct role in the project. [More]

ORFA Position and Review Process

• The ORFA response with members has been to share that there is no direct participation in the project.
• The ORFA has shared this and additional reports with experienced industry practitioners for review, awareness, and comment.
• Further, the ORFA supports research and exploration aimed at creating and maintaining durable, energy-efficient ice sheets.

Industry Experience and Practical Context

• The ORFA values practitioner input and being able to validate testing variables. The ORFA has long served as a trusted source and primary gatekeeper of industry best practices, grounded in frontline member feedback across a wide range of operating conditions. By comparison, the TMU project is an academic peer reviewed study conducted with scientific controls.
• The ORFA openly shares member contact information when industry best practices are being explored. However, due to study confidentiality, the TMU reports are described as peer reviewed. In general, peer review is a quality-control process in which independent experts evaluate research before publication to assess whether the methods are sound, the conclusions are justified, and the work contributes meaningful knowledge. ORFA’s interest in gaining access to venues used for the study was to better understand the practical variables that may have influenced testing results, including regional location, building age, equipment, source-water quality, and practitioner experience.
• For more than 45 years, beginning with Doug Moore’s pioneering work in the science of ice making, ORFA has promoted the importance of understanding ice-making and flood-source water. Variations in Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), including organic and mineral content, can significantly influence ice quality. The TMU study suggests that microplastics, plastic particles less than five millimetres in length, may affect ice quality or facility energy efficiency is an interesting area of investigation that requires more greater understanding.

Worker Exposure and Public Health Responsibilities

• ORFA members have inquired whether workers face any risk of workplace exposure to microplastics. With limited information available to answer this question at this time, ORFA’s position is to remind members that municipalities are responsible for drinking water systems in Ontario. If a health concern is identified, potable water suppliers would be responsible for controlling contamination at the source. [More]
• In addition, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development has responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to support worker safety. The Microplastics in Drinking Water Fact Sheet may also help members better understand potential personal risk. [More]

Next Steps

The ORFA will continue to monitor information provided to the industry and assess its accuracy and validity. At this time, the TMU project remains inconclusive. If future findings are determined to influence ice-making or ice-maintenance best practices, ORFA members can be confident that the information will be incorporated into ORFA educational materials and the Certified Ice Technician (CIT) professional accreditation pathway. Where appropriate, the subject will also be added to ORFA’s aquatic educational awareness platforms.

As always, ORFA welcomes member feedback on this or any other issue affecting the industry.