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| One of our December 2009 days |
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Some general comments about the temperature of the pool
The temperature of the pool ranges from 83.2 to 84.6 degrees.Two years ago, the standard temp for the pool was 81+ degrees; we increased it to the present 84+ degrees. We are virtually the same temperature as the Seattle Public Pools (which are maintained at 85 degrees; Meadowbrook Pool is at 85 degrees, and Evers Pool is at 85 degrees). We do experience fluctuations in water temperature because of a number of factors: outside temperature, time of day, how often the doors are open and closed (it is harder to keep a 84+ degree water temperature on the weekends because of increased membership use), how much water has recently been replaced (due to splashing or evaporation) and not yet raised to temperature, and seasonal variations which bring up the ground water table which acts as a coolant. However, the American Red Cross recommends 78 degrees for fitness swimming and 82 degrees for recreational swimming (http://www2.redcross.org/services/hss/aquatics/FAQ.htm#Q10); 86 degrees is recommended for therapeutic pools. We have a number of lap swimmers as well as recreational users and, for their purposes, we are already somewhat above recommended levels.I have checked with our maintenance company and they say our equipment is running at capacity in terms of water temperature. Letting the pool cool during the midweek and then heating it up for the weekends won’t change the capacity of the machinery. If members want to make a policy regarding pool temperature, we will have to price an upgrade in our equipment, as our current budget hasn’t anticipated replacing the equipment until it wears out and our current reserves are only building toward being able to sustain that expense. We could also cool the pool room to make the water comparatively warmer, which is a tactic used by some community pools, but several adjustments are made by equipment monitoring the air, and we’d have to find out what the effect would be on those procedures. Doors to the club were never weather-stripped. We have that maintenance scheduled; when the weather stripping is in place, it is possible that restricted air flow will raise the temperature in the pool room and water. I don’t know if this is related. We are waiting for a couple of warm days to paint and weather-strip the three doors directly into the pool room because it is still too cold to leave the doors open all day long, which the maintenance requires. After this is completed, I expect that our energy consumption will be reduced during all seasons. This may impact the water temperature fluctuation.If you have any ideas that would improve your satisfaction with the pool, or if you favor one of the approaches outlined above, please let me know.
Hope this information is helpful,
Bill Miller
President May 2010
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