The bottom line is that a proper cleaning once a year isn’t out of line.
There’s been some splashing going on in the past week about the Cowichan Aquatic Centre’s plans to drain the pools starting Aug. 15.
The idea is to take advantage of a time when the facility isn’t as busy, since many people choose to swim outdoors in the summer months, and conduct maintenance and cleaning on the pools. They have to be empty to do that.
So far, not that controversial.
But what has raised some ire in some people is the fact that after the maintenance is completed the pools will have to be refilled — and we’re in the middle of a drought.
So yes, on one hand the timing is good to conduct this work. On the other, it’s a bit unfortunate, seeing as residents are under Stage 3 water restrictions and thus not allowed to fill up their own pools etc.
It’s a good idea to re-examine the timing of the planned work, so that maybe they choose a different window in the future, if indeed these summer droughts become the new normal for us here in Cowichan.
But as for this year, the work needs to be done, and that’s really the bottom line.
Some have questioned the necessity of draining the pools. But consider that the lap pool hasn’t been drained in two years.
The other pool, often filled with kiddies who, as we all know, do occasionally pee and even poop while in the water, hasn’t been drained in a year.
And that’s to say nothing of all the feet and bodies in various states of cleanliness that go in and out of there all the time.
The water is constantly filtered and treated, of course, to maintain health standards for those who use the pools, but at some point the water just has to be replaced with fresh.
We doubt anyone would be happy if the showers weren’t cleaned at least once a year, so changing the pool water once a year, or once every two years, certainly isn’t out of line.
It’s a lot of water, when we’re trying to be careful with our use, but considering how long they make that water last, we’re on the side of getting the pools cleaned.