Imperial City Pool Assistant Manager Cheyenne Kuhlmann wraps up equipment after a night of high-chlorine treatment to kill algae that was present in the pool. (Johnson Publications photo)
Lifeguard Brooklyn Christensen picks up now-clean tubing from the pool last week. (Johnson Publications photo.)
City, lifeguards work hard to get pool clean
The Imperial City Pool was closed again last week due to yellow mustard algae presence.
This type of algae is chlorine-resistant and really hard to remove.
City Clerk/Administrator Jo Leyland said city workers and lifeguards worked long hours last week, trying to get rid of the algae.
“They were out there cleaning the filters and pipes and also scrubbing the walls,” Leyland said. “They worked some 13-hour days...really worked their tails off.”
Pool Assistant Manager Cheyenne Kuhlmann was on-site last week cleaning up after a night of high-chlorine treatment.
“Two to eight is a normal level for the chemicals and we cranked it up to 20-some,” Kulhmann said.
Kuhlmann said they also added the pool floaties and toys to the water while the levels were high so they would get clean, too.
“If you take floaties or stuff to the lake, wash it with bleach before you bring it to the pool,” she added.
In addition to floaties, Leyland said to wash swimsuits after lake swimming rather than just line drying.
“If you don’t, (the algae) will just transfer,” she said.
“There are no guarantees we got it all, but we’re crossing our fingers for now,” Leyland said.
Even though there have been multiple days of pool closings, the city will not be offering refunds to passes bought for the pool.
“It’s something out of our control,” Leyland said. “The weather could give us more days off than chemicals.”
Instead of refunds, the pool was open last Friday for free night swimming, which resulted in a larger crowd than expected.
“We will keep offering some options like that,” Leyland said. “We will also be open on the Fourth of July as a free swim day.”
For timely updates on pool events and closings, visit the Imperial City Pool Facebook page at www.face book.com/Imperial-City-Pool-139502216910351/ or the City of Imperial Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ImperialNE/
You can also call the pool at 308-882-5138 or the city offices at 308-882-4368.