With the start of the academic year, the City is scaling back operations at community swimming pools, as has become customary following the completion of the peak festive season period. The public is however reminded that operations continue to be affected by ongoing load-shedding, and to please consult their schedules before visiting these recreational facilities.
The change in operating hours will be implemented at 16 community swimming pools that are currently operational, namely Bellville, Bellville South, Bonteheuwel, Brown’s Farm, Delft, Goodwood, Hanover Park, Kensington, Khayelitsha, Lentegeur, Muizenberg, Parow North, Ruyterwacht, Trafalgar, Wesfleur (Atlantis) and Wynberg.
These swimming pools were open daily during the peak festive season period, but operating hours will be limited to Thursday and Fridays, after school from 14:00 until 17:00, as well as Saturdays and Sundays, from 10:00 until 17:00.
The indoor swimming pools in Retreat, Blue Downs and Strand will continue to operate daily, from 10:00 until 17:00, while Sea Point and Long Street are open daily from 07:00 until 19:00.
The public is reminded that facilities management may have to deviate from planned opening times, subject to the stage of load-shedding affecting their area.
This is because swimming pool plant rooms rely on electricity to circulate water and distribute chemicals to maintain water quality standards.
‘Load-shedding has very real implications for our swimming pool operations, most notably the ability to maintain water quality. The City cannot risk public health and that is why our facilities management may decide to close during outages, if their assessments indicate that the water quality has been compromised. I ask that our patrons please cooperate with staff in the event that a facility has to close due to load-shedding,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross.
Status of closed swimming pools
Eight swimming pools are temporarily closed due to structural, mechanical and electrical faults. Work continues at Athlone, Langa, Manenberg, Mnandi, Westridge, Parow Valley, Ravensmead and Newlands. Once repairs are completed, opening dates and times will be communicated to the public.
It is anticipated that Newlands will reopen on Friday, 27 January 2023. The facility will be open like the rest of the community swimming pools, from Thursday to Sunday.
Extensive testing has been carried out on the chlorination system to ensure that set water quality standards are achieved, and maintained.
At the Manenberg swimming pool, the City is internally assessing the condition of underground circulation pipes to determine why cast iron particles are ending up in the swimming pool.
Once the root cause is identified, the necessary remedial action can be determined.
The duration and type of repairs needed can only be determined based on the outcome of the internal assessments.
An in-depth assessment for infrastructural repairs of the entire facility will also be undertaken, as part of the swimming pools repairs and maintenance programme; which is dependent on the relevant tender becoming active in the coming months.
As communicated before, the following pools are not opening this season at all, due to major repairs needed: Eastridge, Elsies River, Emthonjeni, Morningstar, Observatory and Vulindlela.
‘The City is committed to providing quality recreational facilities in our communities. We understand the frustration in some communities where swimming pools have not been able to open due to planned maintenance and repairs, or unexpected breakdowns, but our Recreation and Parks Department is working to address these challenges. I renew my call to communities for their cooperation and understanding, as the City has a duty to ensure that our facilities are safe for public use,’ added Councillor Van der Ross.
Source: City Of Cape Town