Manteca Unified needs to make $4 million in critical repairs to address safety needs for the Sierra High and Weston Ranch High swimming pools.
The Manteca Unified board last week authorized staff to work toward getting the improvements in place. The initial planning phase to prepare drawing and such will cost $250,000 per swimming pool. The renovation of the Sierra High pool will cost $1.8 million while the estimate for the Weston Ranch facility is $2.2 million.
The work is likely to be funded with funds from the $260 million bond issue voters approved in November.
That means by the end of 2022 the three pools that have — or had — the biggest issues will be brought up to date including completion of the replacement pool at Manteca High.
While the district has funding to address its swimming pool issues, the City of Manteca does not.
The city in 2017 paid a consultant that told them it would cost $2 million to upgrade the existing municipal pool at Lincoln Park built in the early 1960s by staying within its existing footprint. Replacing the pool with dimensions that meet today’s standards was pegged at $4.5 million in terms of construction dollars four years ago.
It is why some council members over the years have argued — unsuccessfully — that the city would be better off working closer with the school district to utilize pools that aren’t being used when city recreation programs are operating and kids are out of school. The district pools, council members have noted, are financed on the backs of the same taxpayers.
The Manteca Unified Facilities/Operations department contracted with Aquatic Design Group to conduct a full condition assessment of the existing pool facilities at each high school.
As a result of the assessment, several improvements to each facility are identified as critical repairs to maintain the safety of the pool’s on-going operation. The pools at Sierra High and Weston Ranch High were identified as the schools with the highest priority repairs.
That assessment included:
*The decks around the pools are showing signs of wear and fatigue. Cracks in the concrete can be found throughout the pool decks and the pools’ edge where the deck cantilevers over the gutter. In several instances the concrete on the underside of the cantilevered gutter has spalled and exposed re-enforcing steel, an issue that will degrade further as the pool facilities age. A few common places where cracks can also be found on the deck include at the tooled joints and the surge chamber. In addition, the expansion joint mastic is cracking and failing in many places around the deck.
*The surface of the pools are showing signs of age. In several locations the surface of the pools have rusted, stained, delaminated, spalled or otherwise separated. As the pool finish continues to age, the state of the current plaster could result in further oxidation and deterioration of the steel rebar which can increase the risk of leaks and structural failure of the pool shell.
*Any swimming pool renovation will require additional upgrades to accommodate updated accessibility regulations. The swimming pools need two means of accessible entry, one primary and one secondary. This requires alterations to the steps of the pool(s) or the installation of an additional lift.
* An average life cycle for commercial swimming pool circulation pumps motors is 8 to 10 years, 20 years for filter systems, 8 to 11 years for heaters and 15 to 20 years for plumbing and piping. A few pieces of equipment within the pools’ mechanical systems have been updated over time, however, the circulation pumps, filter system, heaters and above ground piping require attention as the life cycle of their operation is ending.
*An average life cycle for commercial swimming pool chemical control monitors is 10 to 20 years, 8 to 10 years for chemical metering pumps, and 12 to 15 years for chemical mini-bulk tanks. The monitors, chlorine system and Acid-feed system are near end of life.
An issue unique to Sierra High is heavy wind impacts. The northern perimeter fence of the pool facility allows for prevailing wind to impact the on-going use of the swimming pool. Dust and debris migrate into the pool from the parking lot into the pool facility which impacts the on-going maintenance of the pool. A wall will be constructed on the north end of the pool area to mitigate wind.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
