Pool Repairs

It's been a great winter for swimming pool repair people.

How do we know? In every park we've visited recently that has one, the swimming pool has been the subject of recent, current or very near future renovations. At Flag City, they had just wrapped up the work. At Bethel Island, we arrived to see (and hear) jackhammers at work for two days turning the bottom of the pool to dust. At Pismo Beach, though the work is nearly finished it's delayed by weeks. The pool opening here as been pushed back to mid May, and at various times of the day we've caught a whiff of "plastic" smell that reminds Boris of the model building days of his youth.

All this activity has made us wonder what's up. At the various parks we've heard people mumble something about "new regulations." So, as we heard the pool contractor's generator fire up at 8AM sharp, we did a little investigating. Turns out all this noise, dust and odor is brought about by a law enacted in December 2007.

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Safety Act requires that public pools – including those at schools, health clubs, recreation centers, hotels and apartments – and other recreational water attractions retrofit drains that could suck someone underwater. The law required pools to be compliant by December 2008, or opening day of the 2009 season. 

A life saving law, or is legislation getting in the way of Darwinism? We'll let you be the judge. 

Meanwhile, know that part of your nightly rate at your neighborhood park with a pool is making the pool safer. And, if you need a loan during this credit crisis, you might look for a swimming pool contractor near you. Like we said, they've had a banner year.