Staff and contractors have been working to diagnose and repair an underground pipe leak. Due to its design, this has been an intricate process that involved specialized contractors with limited availability which has been further hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. All repair options are being explored to ensure fiscal responsibility.
The spa pool was losing considerable amounts of water overnight (2-3 inches) and the auto-fill function was unable to keep up. The amount of water loss and where it was going was very concerning. To find the leak, we had to empty and close the spa pool. The piping had to be sealed and pressurized with a special gas to determine if it was the spa return lines or the jet lines.
Our pipe configuration under the concrete deck has many different 90-degree angles which complicated the leak detection process. If the source of the leak were to be in an easily accessible location, the repair could be made and we could reopen the spa pool in only a few days. This was not the case in our situation.
After months of unsuccessful attempts, we finally determined the leak is in the jet lines. There are 14 jets in the spa pool. To find which specific jet line was leaking, we would have had to shut down the pool and all mechanical equipment overnight for additional pressure testing. Removing all noise would allow the leak to be detected in a very intricate and detailed process. After discovering which jet(s) is leaking, we would need to saw cut into the spa pool, chisel out the concrete around the damaged pipe(s), make the pipe repair(s), and refinish the work area to match the existing aesthetic. A repair would not guarantee that another similar leak would not happen in the future as the spa pool is more than 25 years old. Due to these reasons, we have decided to fully replace the spa pool.
COME BACK SOON TO SEE OUR PROGRESS.
SPA POOL: IN PROGRESS
The State of Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) requires pool renovations to have an IDPH permit. The permit requires calculations and stamped drawings prepared by a professional aquatic engineer. The Streamwood Park District entered into a contract last July with WT Aquatic Engineering and the process is nearly complete. The District has also submitted a grant application for the project in the amount of $300,000 to the State of Illinois’ Department of Economic Opportunity (DCEO). These funds, when awarded, will cover most of the anticipated project budget cost of $350,000. The Streamwood Park District would like to thank Illinois Representative Fred Crespo for his assistance in securing the state funding.
Supply chain issues continue to affect the park district and its operations. The original engineers’ project estimate was $200,000 just 18 months ago. Labor, materials, and concrete have all dramatically increased in price since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Once the IDPH permit and final grant agreement are secured, the project will be opened for public bid and construction. The estimated timeline for this is expected to occur at the end of 2023 or early 2024.
LAP AND ACTIVITY POOLS: IN PROGRESS
The staff has secured pricing estimates to resurface both pools and replace the original DiamondBrite surface. The estimated cost to resurface both pools is $150,000. This cost is separate from the Spa Pool replacement cost. Staff are hoping to coordinate both project timelines to minimize pool closures. If it is impossible to coordinate both projects, the work will be phased in to reduce pool closures.