Pool leaks will be investigated

Plastic pipe lines are the reason the Superior swimming pool leaked.

The culprits were found after concrete was torn apart at the pool in an effort to investigate the problem. After being closed for about a month, the Superior town council voted to investigate the situation at their last meeting.

Roger Wasley said they were able to break through the concrete using a jack-hammer and small backhoe.

“We found the pipes and low and behold the lines are plastic,” Wasley said.

With the pool built back in 1959, Wasley had trouble repairing some of the leaks they had found as “today’s stuff doesn’t fit.” Using bands and other materials they were able to tighten and seal the leaks as best they could.

The other questions that remain is if there is more underneath the slab that the pool house sits on and if the filter tank is also leaking. However, digging underneath the pool house could pose some problems.

“They just put the building on a slab,” Wasley said. “We don’t want it to cave out, so we’re a little afraid to undermine them, but were going to do a little bit.”

The crew could dig under the slab to get to the pipes and filter tank, but compacting it back underneath wouldn’t be possible.

Tony Lapinski said it wouldn’t be a problem to build a dam and pour slurry in order to be able to get under there and back out.

The plan is to plug any water going into the filter tank and see if the water drops down by itself.

It is believed that the leaks are coming either from the tank or pipes underneath the building because it is beginning to sink in.

“Looking at the sinkhole, logically when you’re standing there looking at it, you can assume there’s cracking and breaking of the pipes,” council member Denyse Traeder said.

Wasley said so far they haven’t found anything that would prevent the council from repairing the pool and it hasn’t been as bad as it could have been.

“But then again, we don’t really know for sure because the other two lines head out north, turn and go up,” Wasley said. “But I put a level on that filter tank and it’s still near level compared to the floor of the building. If the tank stays watertight, then it’s a matter of fixing the pipes.”

Mayor Mike Wood posed to council whether or not they wanted to go  give Lapinski and Wasley the go-ahead to continue to follow the leaks, wherever they would lead.

When asked by other council members if they had a choice, Wood said they didn’t have to.

“We could close the pool, but if we want to keep the pool open we need too,” Woods said.

Discussion then moved onto grants to help fix up the pool and possibly replace it, but Traeder and Brenda Schneider, town clerk, both said that it’s going to be very hard to find some money right now in the economy.

“The problem is it’s a public swimming pool,” Traeder said. “It’s a very low priority for the government. We can apply for some, but we can’t compete. I’ve been looking all over the place. One of my missions is to do everything I can to save this pool.”

Wood said while the council would be willing to fund a grant writer he made it very clear they won’t unless they feel they have a good chance at being selected for a grant.

“We would be willing to kick in a little bit of money,” Wood said, “but we would not be willing to do it if we thought the chances of getting a grant is zero.”

Wood again asked the council if they should give the guys a go ahead and they did. A lot of money has not been spent and the council doesn’t have the funds to continue should a major problem arise. If that occurred, they’d be looking at getting a loan.

“If we can isolate any of this and get a direction that’d be nice,” Wasley said. “It’s just a matter of getting a direction or are we chasing the line and don’t fix anything.”

Wood said that it was a risk they were willing to take and the council commended Wasley and Lapinski to continue as they are to save the swimming pool.

“If you find something that you believe to be major, we’ll have to decide if we want to take a look at getting a loan,” Wood said.

After discussing the pool issue, Wood asked Traeder if she’d be willing to head a committee to “seriously look at the possibility of replacing the pool.”

Traeder said yes, adding, “I’m dedicated to saving this pool.”