Melissa Kallett, Recreation Director
While the calendar will soon indicate the arrival of fall, temps will likely remain warm enough to extend our pool season. In answer to some questions that have been raised about our pools, here are some interesting facts about them and the maintenance that is provided daily.
All the pools in PebbleCreek are chlorine pools. The chemical balances are checked three times a day and adjusted accordingly. The Maricopa County officials visit periodically to run their own tests, check our records and ensure that our pools are running properly. To date, all our county evals have passed with flying colors.
The filter systems in our pools are sand based. Accordingly, they automatically “back wash” themselves to clear out the tubing and keep the filters clean. When this happens, it is natural, normal and expected to see sand fragments on the pool floors by the drains.
In addition to the filter system keeping the pools clean, our maintenance staff skims the pools daily and vacuums the pools three times a week, all before patrons start using the pool. That explains why many of you don’t see this happening and why the entire pool doesn’t get vacuumed daily. There is a rotation system in place that ensures cleanliness is maintained. During monsoon season, vacuuming is done more often, as needed, again section by section on a rotation.
Pool users can help keep the pools clean by wearing only pool appropriate shoes in the pool when opting not to go barefoot. Those shoes need be pool only shoes and not ones you wore on your feet from the parking lot, which would then add street dust and dirt into the pools. Also, pool users should shower before entering the pool, especially if you are dropping in for a swim after working out in the fitness center. Failure to shower (with soap) would transfer the dirt, oils and bacteria on your body directly into the pool waters.
Together, pool users and our maintenance team can insure a healthy and enjoyable pool experience.