Swimmers will have to take a break in their routine in December as the aquatic centre at Powell River Recreation Complex will be closed from December 2 to 15.
During the closure, the dehumidification and exhaust air reclaim systems will be installed, as well as a dehumidification reclaim of domestic hot water heating. That work is considered phase one of the project, costing $618,406 and approved by City of Powell River council in the 2013 capital budget.
Council approved awarding the project to Coral Engineering Ltd. in July. The company recommended additional retrofits, including using heat from the pump room’s air-conditioning unit to heat the swirl pool, using solar ambient heating for the domestic hot water system, upgrading the remaining digital heating controls to an automated logic system, installing a door on the women’s washroom entrance from the pool and installing an energy measurement information system. Council approved the additional work in October, with the $173,805 needed for the work coming from the community works fund.
The total cost of the project is $792,211. During the closure, some of the legwork for installing an ultraviolet (UV) filtering system will be done as well, said Bill Reid, director of parks, recreation and culture. Eventually, there will be individual UV treatment for the main pool, the leisure pool and the swirl pool.
UV improves air quality and reduces bacteria that chlorine doesn’t kill, Reid said. “It makes the water clearer. It’s a better water quality.”
However, UV only treats the water at the source, Reid added. “There’s no residual value of UV treatment, there’s no long-term effect. That’s why you still have to use chlorine.”
The amount of chlorine used may be reduced, Reid added, but it would be a minimal decrease.
When people say they can smell chlorine, Reid explained, what they are actually smelling is chloramines, produced when chlorine attaches to bacteria or organisms in the water. “UV does minimize that, because it kills off a lot of the bacteria that would be in the water.” As well, UV treatment also breaks down chloramines, which reduces “red eye” and skin irritation as well as the odour.
What would really help, Reid added, was if people showered the way they are supposed to do before they go into the pool to remove body oils and bacteria on their skin.
Powell River Community Forest Ltd. provided $86,000 to the city for the UV water treatment system.
The UV system will likely not be completed until early in 2014, Reid added.
