WATER SHORTAGE
Insider says three weeks’ notice needed to get facilities in shape for public use
Pools need time to gear up
As pool operators await a target date for Phase 4 of the Re-open Saskatchewan plan, concerns are high that they won’t have enough of a heads-up to open on time or enough of a season left to make opening profitable.
“I’ve talked to so many recreation directors who are very anxious right now. It’s a lot of work to open a pool for the season,” said Shelby Rushton, CEO of the Lifesaving Society’s Saskatchewan branch.
“They need some lead time.” The provincial government said last week it likely will announce a target date for the first part of Phase 4 — which includes outdoor pools and spray pads — early this week.
Rushton hopes that date is announced as soon as possible, since most pools need around three weeks to prepare for reopening. Tasks such as checking pipes and chlorine and heating systems need to be done, and staff need to be hired and trained. Ordering supplies such as chemicals and PPE also takes time.
Under the province’s guidelines, pools will be limited to the number of people they can hold while maintaining physical distancing, to a maximum of 100 people. People are encouraged to come in swim clothes to limit crowds in change rooms. Swimming lessons are allowed only if staff are able to stay physically distant.
Because of uncertainty around when — and how — outdoor pools would be allowed to reopen and fears a shortened season would not make opening profitable, Rushton said many municipalities already have chosen not to open their facilities at all this year.
Regina, Melville, Langenburg, Kamsack, Wynyard and Coronach are all communities that have decided their outdoor pools will remain closed, she said.
Regina city council agreed to keep its outdoor pools closed for the summer in late May. This is expected to save the city around $35,000 in opening costs and $415,000 in operating costs.
Saskatoon city council, however, approved a plan on Thursday that could see outdoor pools open in as little as two weeks, depending on the date announced for Phase 4.
The Saskatoon plan will see the rehiring of dozens of laid-off staff members and the reopening of dozens of facilities, including leisure centres, rinks and pools.
“It’s summer … People want to get outside, they want to get some sunshine,” Coun. Bev Dubois said.
Council amended the proposal to include the opening of at least two, and preferably four, outdoor pools this season, and extending their closing date into September if possible.
Seeing fewer pools open across the province is a concern for Rushton, who noted the Lifesaving Society’s primary concern is always drowning prevention. If community pools aren’t open to people, Rushton is worried more people will head to nearby lakes or creeks for a swim.
“Open water is where we see the most drownings in our province and right across Canada,” she said.
“There’s always a risk of drowning, but we know that with pools not being available, it absolutely has elevated the risk.”
With files from The Saskatoon Starphoenix lgiesbrecht@postmedia.com
I’ve talked to so many recreation directors who are very anxious right now. It’s a lot of work to open a pool for the season.