Sylvan Lake swimmers will be left high and dry for a few days after corrosion issues forced the closure of the town’s pool.
The town announced on Friday that the pool will be closed until repairs are made to structural columns.
Public works manager Dave Brand said it is expected that the closure will last only a few days. The town is waiting for engineers to approve the temporary fix to shore up structural columns corroded by the humid pool air.
“We’re definitely thinking short term. This is not a long-term closure whereby we expect we’re going to be down for a period of weeks,” said Brand.
“It’s more a period of days.”
Problems were first brought to the town’s attention a few weeks ago as engineers examined the facility as part of preparations for the new multiplex, which will be built alongside. Council then approved further testing of the supports, which led to a recommendation that they be strengthened at a cost of about $75,000.
“In this case, what we would be proposing is essentially to augment the columns with other columns,” said Brand.
The work is a temporary measure until structural upgrades planned as part of the aquatic centre’s incorporation into the $33.5-million NexSource Centre multiplex are done.
Those changes will ensure the facility meets the latest snow load requirements and other building standards that may have changed over time.
To ensure no future corrosion problems occur, council recently approved additional money to upgrade the air handling systems for the entire multiplex, pool included.
Mayor Sean McIntyre expressed disappointment on Friday that this kind of repair is required for a 15-year-old pool complex.
Brand said the town is looking into whether there were faults in the original design and what warranty protection may be available.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com