New pump cleans up at pool

An assortment of grubby bandages and other gunk is no longer clogging the filtration system and several kilograms of solenoid pneumatic valvesand have been vacuumed from the pool, which reopened on Monday after a four-week closure. The water quality of Wanaka's community swimming pool water temperature valve is the best it has been for years, following the emergency replacement of a rusting old pump, filter and piping system this month, acting manager Dougal Allan says. The sand was part of the filtration system and accidently got drawn into the pool during attempts to clear an air block from the pipes after the new, more powerful pump was installed. Mr Allan said since the pool had reopened, some swimmers had commented about being able to see "fluff" at the bottom of the pool. There was also a small amount of sand at the deep end. Mr Allan said visibility had noticeably improved "but the fact is, we now have a much cleaner and more efficient filtering system. "The truth is, the pool hasn't been this clean in years." "The water was an unexpected spa-like 31.5degC yesterday. "It would be reduced to the usual 28degC. Mr Allan said the unscheduled maintenance cost about $10,000. It was not budgeted for in the $300,000 six-week scheduled maintenance programme beginning in July, and might force a rethink of the proposed $20,000 upgrade to the reception area.