In a recent setback at Orchard Mesa Recreational Facility, the water temperature at the local pool dropped by nine degrees after a key component failed. However, the City of Grand Junction responded quickly to the issue, ensuring the pool never had to shut down.

Unexpected Breakdown: The Pilot Light Issue

The problem began when the water heater’s pilot light went out, causing a significant drop in temperature at the pool. According to Recreation Superintendent Emily Krause, the aging infrastructure contributed to the failure of the ignition source. “The water heater failed. The pilot light ignition source had to be replaced due to the age of the pool,” Krause explained.

In a creative solution to keep the pool operational in the short term, the team sourced a part from the Lincoln Park pool. Since Lincoln Park’s pool is closed for the winter and won’t reopen until summer, this swap proved to be an efficient temporary fix.

Swift Repairs and Minimal Disruption

The Orchard Mesa pool’s temperature, which typically hovers around 84 degrees, dropped to 75 degrees due to the malfunction. Despite the cooler temperatures, the pool stayed open, and the City worked fast to fix the issue. The replacement part, necessary for a permanent solution, will take about six weeks to be delivered, but the pool is expected to be back to its usual warmth in no time.

The age of the pool was a factor in this failure, and Krause noted that additional issues could arise in the near future as many parts are reaching the end of their life. “We had a third-party engineer evaluate most of the pool functions up at Orchard Mesa. Most of them are at their kind of end of life and are struggling to maintain,” she said.

No Shutdowns: Pool Remains Open for the Community

Fortunately, the repairs were completed in record time. The problem with the boiler was identified on Monday and replaced by Tuesday afternoon, meaning the pool never had to close. Krause emphasized the importance of having the pool available to the Orchard Mesa community, particularly during school breaks. “It was really nice that we were able to fix it so quickly. During anytime there’s no school days, it’s really nice to have that pool open and available,” she said.

The pool will remain closed on New Year’s Day but will reopen on Thursday during its normal hours.