The Kona Community Aquatic Center will remain closed through June 4 while crews install federally mandated drain covers at the facility, Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation Director Bob Fitzgerald said Thursday. The Kona Community Aquatic Center will remain
The Kona Community Aquatic Center will remain closed through June 4 while crews install federally mandated drain covers at the facility, Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation Director Bob Fitzgerald said Thursday.
Crews continued draining the pool Thursday following several days of preparation work, including dechlorination of the water, which began on Sunday, said the department’s West Hawaii District Supervisor Victor McDaniel.
If all goes as planned, and no other issues arise, McDaniel anticipates the pool will reopen to the public on June 4.
The islandwide project is being performed by Global Specialty Contractors, which was awarded a $234,640 contract to do the work. The company will replace all of the drain covers at the county’s nine public pool facilities with newer, safer versions that meet mandated federal standards to address potential entrapment issues.
The drain covers are required by the 2008 Federal Pool and Spa Safety Act, Fitzgerald said. He explained the work is only now getting under way because of funding and other issues. The Kona pool project was supposed to commence in December but was postponed because of a state swim meet, he added.
