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The lap pool at the Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center is temporarily closed. FILE
Ten days after the temporary closure of the lab pool at the Habersham County Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center near Clarkesville on Sept. 19, the pool remains closed.
A mechanical issue affecting only the lap pool is resulting in cloudy water, such that the lifeguard cannot see beyond the third lane, nor is the bottom of the pool visible from many areas, said Parks and Recreation Director Brooke Whitmire.
Water quality is not an issue, but water clarity is.
“We are very hopeful that we’ll be able to reopen soon,” Whitmire said Friday, Sept. 29. “We are working diligently on that.”
Whitmire said all steps have been taken for repair of the pool, but supply chain issues and logistics may delay the permanent fix.
“We have made contact with the commercial pool company that we need to make the repairs to the pool, and they have ordered the parts that we need, so we’re kind of at the mercy of how quickly they come in,” Whitmire said.
Whitmire stressed the county wants to fix the problem correctly and fully.
“We want to fix this thing right,” Whitmire said. “We’ve also contacted the original person who actually built the pool, so we would like to coordinate with the company and with him to come in and do the major repair that’s needed.”
The smaller recreation pool has remained open since the visibility issue only impacts the larger lap pool. Whitmire said she is hopeful the pool can be corrected temporarily in the meantime.
“We are very hopeful that even up until that happens that we will be able to reopen once we have cleared the water up and once it’s a safe level for clarity’s sake,” Whitmire said.
Before the pool reopens, Environmental Health officials will inspect the pool to ensure safe water quality.
– Habersham County