Officials in Clarkdale, Arizona, are debating whether the local swimming pool should be repaired or simply demolished and replaced, according to the Verde Independent.
There are a number of serious issues that need to be addressed before the pool could be reopened for public use. A leaky gutter and skimmer system spills roughly 6,500 gallons of water per day when the pool is in use, and large pieces of the pool's plaster shell have been flaking off, causing both safety and maintenance problems, the news source reports.
Both the children's pool and the main pool would require a new pump to improve efficiency. On top of all this, the entire facility – both pools, as well as restrooms, showers and locker rooms at the Clark Memorial Clubhouse – need to be retrofitted to meet accessibility standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Cost estimates for repairs are due back April 30, at which point officials will be better able to decide how to proceed.
In 2009, a federal law requiring anti-entrapment drain covers in all public swimming pools went into effect, causing many other facilities across the state to scramble to meet the new compliance guidelines. An estimated 9,000 pools were affected in Arizona's central valley alone, according to The Arizona Republic.
