On hot summer days like the ones experienced all across Kansas this month, thousands of people find sanctuary at the local swimming pool, but this summer’s heat is so extreme it’s becoming a financial burden for area swimming pools .
Luke Bycroft, Iola Recreation Department director, said the heat is increasing the temperature of the city pool and, as a result, driving up supply costs.
For the past three weeks, or since the excessive heat arrived in Allen County, Bycroft said the pool’s water has exceeded 90 degrees by the end of each day, and only cools to 88 degrees throughout the night hours.
“When it’s this hot, the chlorine burns up a lot faster,” he said, adding that the ideal water temperature hovers around 85 degrees.
In a typical summer, Bycroft said, when it’s not nearing or exceeding the 100-degree mark every day, the 300,000-gallon pool needs one bucket, or 55 pounds, of chlorine added to it every day in order to keep bacteria levels low.
“Now we’re using twice that,” he said, adding that on the hottest of days, up to 150 pounds of chlorine is used.
With only 18 buckets, or 990 pounds, of chlorine left in stock to last the rest of the summer season, Bycroft said the Recreation Department will need to purchase an additional $4,000 worth of the chemical.
Not only does the extreme summer heat bring added costs to the city recreation department, but it also brings added job responsibility for the pool’s lifeguards.
Karlie Lower, in her first year as an Iola Municipal Pool lifeguard, said keeping themselves and the patrons hydrated and covered in sunblock is an increasing concern as the heat wave continues.
“We really do have to keep an eye on the kids and make sure they’re not staying in the pool too long and they’re drinking water,” she said. “But at least I’m getting a better tan.”
Oftentimes, Bycroft said, people think being in water is enough to keep their body at a healthy state, but it’s not.
“When it gets this hot they don’t necessarily do a good job, when they’re in the pool, of staying hydrated,” he said. “They think they’re cool because they’re in the water but they can get dehydrated.”
As one might assume, attendance is up at the municipal pool. Already this summer the pool has seen 14,600 people walk through the doors, up 500 from this point last summer.
“With so many people in the pool at once when it gets this hot, it’s important to be more alert and keep a closer eye on the kids,” said first-year lifeguard Stephen McDonald.
Although the unexpected heat was not accounted for in the recreation department’s annual budget, Bycroft said he’ll be able to get through the year on resources already allocated.
Swimming pool costs rise with temperatures
