Local pool's temperature rises as bathers try to beat summer heat

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Swimmers at North County Aquatic Center may have had a hard time beating the heat this summer. Water temperature at the pool, normally kept at around 84 degrees year-round, soared to as hot as 90 degrees this week.

The same equipment malfunction has allowed water temperatures to plummet to as cold as 60 degrees over the winter.

It's all because of the geothermal pool water heat exchanger — which regulates water of the pool — failing and filling with sand.

"It's an ingenious system that does a fantastic job of efficiently managing the temperature of the pool, when it works," explained county Parks, Recreation and Conservation Assistant Director Gustavo Vergara. "Unfortunately, the well failed. It cannot be fixed, and we have to drill another."

That's a $500,000 proposition.

The heat exchanger works by pulling water from a deep underground aquifer, nearly 700 feet down, and running it through coils. Pool water is circulated past the coils, which cools the water in summer and heats it in winter. Groundwater then is returned to the aquifer, without ever being contaminated, since it's a closed system.

Keeping the water at 84 degrees, Vergara pointed out, helps lap swimmers stay cool and water-aerobics swimmers stay warm.

Approximately 350 feet underground, the 20-year old steel well that services the system burst open and filled with sand, according to Vergara. The failure was identified in September, but planning and drilling a new well takes time, he said.

While the pool has been open, the water hit 90 degrees June 25.

The new well will be concrete to help avoid similar failures in the future, Vergara explained. Digging began June 23, with a hydrologist is overseeing the project, to make sure contaminants do not enter the aquifer.

If all goes well, county Parks, Recreation and Conservation Director Beth Powell expects drilling to end Aug. 26. The county is updating progress weekly on its website and Facebook pages.

"Aside from temperature regulation, both pools are operating the regular summer schedule and are fully staffed," said Powell.

Nick Slater is TCPalm’s Indian River County Watchdog reporter. You can reach him at [email protected] and 224-830-2875.