Edenvale pool drained as city awaits essential chemicals

Edenvale Swimming Pool was left drained and nearly empty because of a shortage of essential chemicals.
During a recent visit to the facility with Ward 18 Ald Heather Hart and environmental portfolio committee member Lisa Atkins, the News saw the pool drained almost empty.

During the visit, lifeguard Phumlani Mazibuko explained that the pool had to be drained due to a lack of chemicals, such as chlorine, to ensure essential equipment, including the pool filters, was not damaged while the facility was out of use.

The pool, which can contain 1.2 million litres of water, will have to be refilled once the chemicals are provided.

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The Edenvale pool attracts swimmers from areas including Tembisa, Alexandra, Klopperpark, Elandsfontein, Sandringham, Gerdview and Primrose.

During a September meeting, it was revealed that the Energy Department as well as the Real Estate Department’s EPMO had visited the pool recently to assess the distribution boards, electricity supply and a way forward.

Atkins said that, with so few pools operational in the Northern Region, she hopes that Edenvale pool will become a gem in the region.

Hart told the News that R20m has been allocated through the Ward 18 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) to improve and renovate the Edenvale Public Swimming Pool.

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In October last year, the News reported that Edenvale Public Swimming Pool was one of the few remaining operational swimming pools in the Northern Region.

At the time, delays in chlorine delivery were affecting the pool and chlorine gas had to be turned on and off during peak times.

In response to queries about the previous chlorine shortage, City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said procurement processes for all CoE swimming pools were initiated on January 6 and are still ongoing.

He said a store quotation application was submitted on June 29 and is now in the final stages of adjudication.

Dlamini explained that chlorine gas is used to disinfect water and kill bacteria and pathogens.

“Without chlorine gas, the water will be unsafe, and the pool will have to close,” he said.

Like Atkins, Mazibuko said he would like to see Edenvale Public Swimming Pool improved.

He said he hoped to see the pool surface redone with tiles, which he explained would be easier to clean and maintain, as well as having the pool eventually heated.

On September 8, the News was informed that chlorine had been delivered; however, no update was provided regarding the delivery of other chemicals needed to maintain the facility.

Atkins also informed the News that the pumps for the pool need to be refitted.

A request for comment was sent to the City of Ekurhuleni asking why there had been a delay in the delivery of essential pool chemicals, if there were measures in place to prevent this during the remainder of the swimming season and if the city had any plans to upgrade Edenvale Swimming Pool in the near future.

Comment was requested by September 17 at 09:00.

At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.