INNISFAIL – Just as the town recently decided to move forward to secure funding for a new $28.5 million aquatic centre almost $45,000 has been committed for repairs to the existing facility.
At council’s regular meeting on May 23, Meghan Jenkins, the director of community services for the Town of Innisfail, said the aquatic centre’s regenerative media filters need rebuilding.
Regenerative media filters remove particles from dirty pool water by forcing the water through thin layers of powdery filter materials that collect dirt, oils, and other unwanted materials in pool water.
Council was told by Jenkins that poor filtration run-times and a presence of filter media (perlite) in the pool tanks initiated a recent investigation when the whirlpool was closed to repair a pump.
“It was found that filter covers, cores and associated O-rings and gaskets have been damaged and are not functioning correctly,” said Jenkins. “This was not a planned maintenance item as covers were replaced less than two years ago and previous covers had lasted over five years.”
She added the filter cores are also past their scheduled replacement and are cracking.
Jenkins said there were similar issues of perlite being found within the main pool tank, which forced the staff to recommend both filters be promptly rebuilt.
Council was told replacement parts were found for a quote for $44,893. Jenkins said the parts are estimated to arrive in 12 weeks.
Jenkins said last week the whirlpool has been closed for about a month but could be reopened in the interim repair period if some of the “worst” torn filters are fixed.
“Due to the anticipation that a new pool would be constructed at this point we would be looking to pursue just the rebuild of the existing filters,” said Jenkins, noting a full replacement of regenerative media filters would cost between $250,000 to $400,000, and would take 16 to 20 weeks to deliver.
Council unanimously approved the expenditure of $44,893.28 for the rebuild of the regenerative media filters for the main pool and whirlpool at the aquatic centre, with funding coming from the General Capital Reserve.
As for the expense to the facility when the municipality is fully committed to finding funds to build a bigger and better aquatic centre, mayor Jean Barclay said the town has no choice but to fix the aging facility.
“You can't have an aquatic centre that mechanically is not working properly, so we don't have a choice,” said Barclay. “Yes, we have started on a new aquatic centre but we are a long ways from taking that next step forward, and of course that is going to rely on funding.
“At some point in time you have to set a time frame that you're either going to be able to secure funding for the new aquatic centre, or you're not,” she added. “And if you cannot secure the funding that you need, then what do you do?”
