WREC Year End Report

ecause, for example, while the WREC has 25 treadmills, it only has
one pool. If it is out of service it can completely curtail the exercise
choice for numerous students for several days.
The pool and spa are also in need of tile replacement. The reason
for their replacement needs are different. The spa has water that
goes underneath its accessibility cap. The water then goes on and
behind the vertical tile face. Minerals deposits form on the face of
the tile causing nearly irreversible stains. In addition, minerals deposit
behind the tile ultimately pushing it away from the wall.
The pool tile is breaking due to forces from the surrounding pool
deck concrete. It is extremely hard to determine if those forces are
due to a design or build flaw or to natural movements of the deck.
Unfortunately, there is enough doubt and blame to go around that
legal action seems pointless. Repair experts the WREC has consulted
seem focused on cosmetic repairs and not addressing underlying
causes.
As-built drawings for the pool and a few pool photos from that time
have been located. The goal is to put this information in front of both
Holiday Pools and Ricardo Carrillo from FMS later this summer. Ricardo
has strong feelings about the cement pour of the WREC pool
siting its design for a monolithic pour and the multiple pours that actually
took place. Holiday Pools was brought out to provide a repair
bid but during their visit really impressed with their desire to identify
the root cause. Supplemental reference checking with In Motion and
others confirmed the knowledge and integrity of this vendor. Unfortunately,
what was supposed to be a 2017 summer project will now
be delayed. It is important to do this project right the first time. It is
believed that the inconvenience created by waiting, combined with
potentially higher repair costs up front, will give the WREC and its
student customers a better end product, reduced down time, and
ultimately a cheaper repair in the long run.
The pool deck overlay that was done close to two years ago has
never held up well. The overlay was done to address deterioration
issues in the original deck that seem to be related chemicals in the
water. This is believed to be the case because the deterioration was
most prevalent in the locations where the most water got on the deck.
The overlay installer has been out several times to “patch” spots that
have not adhered well. The vendor has even had a manufacturer’s
representative out to see the results. One of the representatives suggested
reasons for spot failure was that the applications were being
done in less than ideal weather conditions.
The most recent plan to resolve the problem was to close the pool
for several days this summer to create the most ideal conditions for a
final repair attempt. Unfortunately, the aforementioned tile issue repairs
would need to take place first as the overlay comes right up to
the expansion joints that would be addressed during the tile repair.
So, the overlay project has also been postponed until next summer.
If its final attempt does not permanently fix the problem the WREC
will be seeking some sort of refund of the project.
Simultaneously, the WREC has entered into an agreement with the
campus Engineering Capstone program to have a slack-line support
system designed, fabricated and installed at the pool. While
this project affords the students involved with its design a year-long
real-world learning opportunity, it will ultimately allow WREC customers
a unique aquatic experience. Furthermore, it helps bolster a
previously weak aquatic programming schedule while also allowing
for cross programming with AO.
Additional pool related facility issues in 2016/17 include the replacement
of both the pool and spa chlorine feeders and the installation
of a permanent pace clock. Installed by FMS, the new pool
pace clock provides swimmers with a high quality long term solution
to cheap, often broken, poolside clocks. Feeders work by having
water sprayed over chlorine briquettes and the mixture going back
into the system. WREC Maintenance staff performed twice monthly
cleaning and maintenance on the previous units but after seven plus
years of constant feeding, the feeders were breaking down more
frequently and required replacement.
Similarly, the vast majority of the WREC’s pool furniture has been on
site since the building’ opening. The equipment has served patrons
well. Some has been replaced in ones and twos over time but at this
point the vast majority is from the original purchase. WREC Maintenance
has done a great job having some of the units reupholstered
in an effort to save money. Furthermore, they have cannibalized
parts from old units to sustain the life cycle of others. However, it is
now time to replace 90 percent of all furniture. Surprisingly, Costco
provides the best option, by far, for the money. Current lounge chairs
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