Some dog owners in north Edmonton are upset with the city over a new stormwater pond in the middle of the neighbourhood's biggest dog park.

The pond opened this year in the middle of the off-leash area in Hermitage Park. It used to be filled with natural ground water and was a regular swimming hole for dogs.

A sign at the stormwater pond in Hermitage Park warns against swimming — but by humans, not pets. (CBC)

Now, it's filled with runoff from the streets, lawns and driveways of almost all North Edmonton.

Since the change, there's been no signage to say whether it's safe for dogs to swim, the dog owners said.

"No one really knows what's coming off the streets, what types of chemicals and whatnot are coming into this lake. So, you know, this is still a dog park, but it's just sad that we really have to be aware of, you know, where our dogs are and make sure that they're not going in there," said Roger Lebel, who has been going to the park for years.

"There should be better signs, just more prompts and whatnot, just to let people know that it isn't 100 per cent pure and it is part of the sewage system."

Chris Maddalena's dog swims there once a week.

"I'd like to see some signs up there, let us know what's going on," Maddalena said. "Who knows what's in there?"

Already signs for people

A city official said there is signage up warning people not to swim in the pond, and that should let dog owners know that it's not for their pets, either.

"It may not talk about pets, I guess, but if you've got a pet would you send it to go swimming where you wouldn't go swimming?" asked Sid Lodewyk, an engineer and supervisor in the city's drainage services branch.

But Carol O'Rourke, who isn't a regular at the off-leash area, didn't see those signs until her dog was already in water. Even then, she became confused by other signage that praises new wetland rehabilitation in the area.

"Better signage would at least make people more aware, and I'd like to think pet owners would be responsible," O'Rourke said.

Lodewyk said if the storm pond becomes a serious issue for pets, the city will look at changes to the posted warnings.