By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – The Shore Aquatic Center’s lap and dive pool in Port Angeles was in danger of being closed indefinitely because of a broken-down circulation pump, but it looks like the good people of Forks Parks and Recreation District have saved the day, and now there’s a good chance the pool will reopen in a day or two.
The lap pool was originally closed on May 3 for a planned 3 days so it could be drained and the bottom coating repaired where it had come loose from the concrete. The pool was refilled after the repairs were made, but Pool Director Ryan Amiot says, when they tried to get the circulation pump going again, it wouldn’t start.
“They left the original pump in, so that pump is over 30 years old. That’s what Steve Burke’s estimating. It’s just over 30 years old, because he said it’s been here since before he was here. So, it’s had a very long life. And they did just about everything they could to get that thing going, and it just wasn’t priming, wasn’t priming. It just wasn’t having it. And they did manage to get it back on, but we need 417 gallons per minute to be compliant. And right now, we’re hovering at about 13o.”
Executive Director Steve Burke located a new replacement pump at a cost of around $5,000, but was told it wouldn’t ship for an estimated 10 days from now.
“I was worried. When a manufacturer says it’ll take us 10 days, generally, that means, like, 2 months.”
So on a hunch, he contacted the people at Forks Parks and Rec, and struck gold.
“The Forks Parks and Rec District, that operates a small gym and pool in Forks has one that they used to use on their old pool when it was much bigger. And they were no longer using it. It’s 15 years old, which is probably 20 years newer than the one we had. So, I went out this morning and grabbed it, and I’m heading back right now.”
Burke said his intention is to try to get the pump installed on Thursday and be open by Friday. Is he sure it’s going to be a good fit with his old plumbing?
“Yes. We’ll make it fit.”
In the meantime, the wellness pool, the kid’s activity pool and the hot tub are open for business.