Chris Banyas
Staff Writer
Students who frequent Reed Gym have undoubtedly noticed that the pool has been closed in recent days due to repairs. The closure of the pool is not related to the closure of the parking lot.
One of the main pipes in the pool’s drainage system is being replaced and the repair is tentatively scheduled to be completed by the beginning of the spring semester, if not before.
“About three weeks ago we had an underwater light break and we had water that was flooding into our mechanical room downstairs,” said Doug Milder, director of campus recreation. “We knew that we’d have to drain the pool because the light was in the deep end, so we had to drain the pool all the way down to get ladders in there and replace the lens.”
While the pool was empty, Facilities Services decided to check the pipe on the main drain, as it is 62 years old and has been deteriorating in recent years.
“We ran a camera down from the main drain in the pool into the pipe and we could see there was a piece of the pipe that had collapsed into the drain,” said Milder. “So there was concern that this drain line being so old, that it could cause a further shutdown or we could lose water underground.”
The pipe being replaced is made entirely of cast iron.
“It’s not a matter of poor maintenance, it’s an underground pipe. Cities replace sewer lines but a cast iron sewer line, just as a matter of time and moisture, they become bad, and that’s what this is,” said Milder.
The replacement of the pipe is one of the first major repairs conducted on the pool in recent years.
“I’ve been here 20 years and we have not done this extensive a repair on the pool since I’ve been here,” said Milder. “I’m not sure of the exact dollar amount but I’ve heard $55,000.”
Aside from the individuals who use the pool year-round, there are several physical education classes as well as a kayaking class that are now without a pool to call home.
“I do know that kayaking is doing a lot of training, doing some dry land stuff and watching some films and working on some things,” said Milder. “The other classes, we’ve offered them opportunities to do some other types of physical exercise.”
Finding an alternative pool for these classes is difficult as the only pool in the area that would come close to the accommodations of the Reed pool is the community rec center, which is already very busy.
“We just hope that students would understand that there’s other ways to stay physically fit. We have a large number of intramurals,” said Milder. “We’ve got a lot of fitness machines and weights. You can take a walk around the track or try out some racquet ball, or go climbing.”
Construction of a new pool is not currently on the table as it would cost somewhere in the ballpark of $15 million.
