Decommissioned pool pump receives new motor

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Town council once again dipped into the pockets of Financial Stabilization reserve to make up a $10,000 shortfall caused by replacing equipment at the lap pool, which is currently running on its backup pump.
The lap pool circulation pump at the Strathmore Aquatic Centre, which is a vital component of the operations of the pool, has been out of commission since June 10. Without the circulation pump the pool can only remain open for four hours, and while the six-year-old backup pump has been working hard to keep the pool active, it’s not equipped to handle the load.
“It’s definitely a busy place … and [the pump] runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year except during shut down when the pool is closed, so it works very hard,” said Tracy Simpson, program services coordinator for the Town of Strathmore, who added that summer programs drive up attendance.
“The reason we have two pumps is for exactly this reason. So when the main pump goes down the main backup can handle it and the pool is never down. This one is our main pump, so it’s the largest one and obviously our most costly. The backup pump is older and it’s not quite as big, so it’s not meant to be used on an annual basis year around.”
A report submitted by James Electric, an electrical company who has been servicing the machine since its installation 13 years ago, suggested that the motor was no longer repairable and in need of replacement. Since the pool was built, the pump – which circulates the water through the pool every hour to clean it, treat it, and thus ensure the safety of the pool – required various parts replacements over the years. According to town administration, servicing was required every two years with the majority of the parts having been replaced at least once previously.
According to Simpson, administration is confident that the pump currently in place will suffice until the new pump arrives later this week.
As the purchase was not a budgeted item, the $10, 407.95 plus GST required to replace the motor will be coming from Financial Stabilization.
With the absence of Councillor Brad Walls and Councillor Pat Fule, town council passed a motion to replace the Marathon Motor for the lap pool circulation pump on July 8.