LIHUE — After several days of testing, it has been determined that the pump and motor at the Kapaa swimming pool have to be replaced. Officials are in the process of ordering replacements, and it is expected take eight weeks
LIHUE — After several days of testing, it has been determined that the pump and motor at the Kapaa swimming pool have to be replaced.
Officials are in the process of ordering replacements, and it is expected take eight weeks before the pool can be operational again.
In the meantime, arrangements have been made with the state Department of Education to hold the swim classes at the Kauai High School swimming pool that were previously scheduled at the Kapaa pool.
Parents have been contacted about the change in location for the swim classes.
The Kauai High School swimming pool is also open to the public on the follow days/times:
• Adult swimming – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, from 8 to 9:30 a.m.
• Open swimming – Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 1 to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday, from 12 to 4:30 p.m.
The Kapaa pool, which costs the county $247,000 to operate annually, is used by swimmers about 45,000 times per year, county spokeswoman Mary Daubert said.
Pool use is free to the public. So are swim classes.
Daubert said there have been no previous issues with the pump prior to its failure this week. The original pump from the 1960s was replaced in 2005.
In 2013, the county spent $300,000 on renovations to the restrooms and pump room. New walls, restrooms and shower facilities were part of the rebuild as well as the replacement of the steel chain link fencing around the pool with a fence made of aluminum.
The upgrade made the pool more energy efficient, able to withstand harsh elements and aesthetically pleasing, according to a county press release.
A majority of the work was on the men’s and women’s locker rooms, which were replaced with two free-standing building that have two restrooms, a changing room, three outdoor showers and a drinking fountain.
The pool equipment room was also repaired and repainted.
The county has long-term plans to build a new pool on a site across from the Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex.
