Aquatic Center leak found
SKYE POURNAZARI/DAILY FORUM
ACCO Unlimited employees dig above and look at an inlet below last Tuesday at the Maryville Aquatic Center. The leak was found in the inlet system.
Maryville Parks and Recreation has worked with contractor ACCO Unlimited and isolated the leak to the wall inlet system.
Last week, ACCO excavated 12 feet below ground on the north side of the deep end of the pool to the suspected leak location. There they found a significant leak in the inlet piping system in the walls.
“What we hoped to be an isolated area, showed that we actually had multiple leaks on that system,” a press release from Maryville Parks and Recreation said.
The inlet piping system is sitting on concrete supports every 18 feet around the deep end pool deck. That piping has settled between the supports causing potential breaks at each site of the 9 inlet areas.
According to the minutes from the Maryville Parks and Recreation Board meeting last Thursday, seven of the nine inlets at the deep end of the pool are damaged and causing issues.
The cause of the leak seems to be a combination of the way the system was installed and the backfill material used surrounding the system.
After performing a dye test that checks the seams and inlets of the pool, and cutting into the pool to test different sections of the pool basin, it was determined the leak was only in the deep end of the pool. The rest of the pool is functioning properly.
“Although we have not come to a conclusion of how to move forward, we are pleased in finding the troublesome leak that we can now address and ensure the issue is fixed,” the release said.
Options for repair range from a temporary repair that will last one season to $200,000 for a permanent plumbing repair.
“There are a few options of how we can move forward and it is the Parks and Recreation Board as well as staff’ responsibility to look at all options, while still being able to provide experiences to the community we serve,” the release said.
Director Aaron Dobson said he will research possible funding solutions for the repairs.
“What we’re going to do is we’re going to winterize the facility at the point,” said Shelly Hersh, recreation supervisor “We’re going to use the next month to figure out the finances.”
