By Melissa Fales
Turley Publications Reporter
WARE – Only time will tell the fate of Reed Memorial Pool on West Main Street, which is currently facing two big obstacles to its being open at all this summer.
In an effort to address the town’s approximately $2 million budget shortfall, Town Manager Steven C. Boudreau has proposed eliminating the Parks and Recreation Department altogether (along with other departments) for fiscal year 2010. That would keep the pool dry and empty all summer long. Even if the Parks and Recreation Department is funded with a budget, however, the pool has another problem. Its drain is in violation of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.
The law, signed by President Bush in December 2007, requires all public pools to install anti-entrapment drain covers. It is named after a 7-year-old girl who drowned in a hot tub after being trapped underwater by the strong suction pull of its drain. The law specified a Dec. 19, 2008 deadline for the safety drain covers to be in place.
“We are not in compliance,” said Park Manager David Tworek. “If we want to open the pool this summer, we’ll have to make an investment.” Tworek roughly estimated an appropriate drain cover might cost the town $3,000, but could cost as little as $2,000 if town workers install the device.
For Tworek, bringing the pool into compliance is certainly a concern, but it pales in comparison to the larger problem that the department’s entire budget could be eliminated. He said he is waiting to see the budget that Boudreau presents in February. “If the Parks and Recreation Department still exists, then the pool should be open this summer,” he said.
According to Tworek, the mandate has caused a great demand for the drain covers. “The manufacturing specifications weren’t released to the manufacturers until fairly recently. It’s been a real challenge for these companies to meet the call for the covers because every public pools needs them,” he said.
While most new pools have a multi-drain system, Reed Memorial Pool, built in the 1950s, has a single drain system. The law requires additional safety precautions for pools with a single drain system, either a safety vacuum release, a suction limiting vent, a gravity drainage system, an automatic pump shutoff or drain disablement mechanism. These are designed to serve as a back-up system should the drain cover break or become less effective over time.
Tworek said he will talk to a design engineer for their input on which back-up system makes the most sense for Reed Memorial Pool. But before he does, he wants to make sure that the Parks and Recreation Department will continue to exist. “It’s just wait and see for another month,” said Tworek. “It would be foolish to go forward if budget cuts mean there will be no pool.”
One benefit in the delay is that it allows for more time for companies to produce the needed drain covers. “Everyone’s scrambling to buy now,” Tworek said. “Once that initial demand dies down, there should be more products available. They’ll also likely be at a more reasonable price.” Tworek said if the Parks and Recreation Department remains intact throughout the budget process, he hopes that the pool will be compliant with the law, and therefore able to open, by mid-June.