It will take up to eight weeks for a new water valve to be delivered for ongoing hot tub repairs at the local leisure pool.
The tub has closed several times over the last few years due to plumbing issues, and had underwent significant inspection and “complex repairs” during annual maintenance this fall.
In an update Friday, the North Peace Leisure Pool Commission says that work included sonar scans to identify leaks and broken pipes. However, the process continues to be challenged.
“Repairs were made to several pipes buried in the concrete pool deck and to two main drains and two jets inside the hot tub basin,” the commission said.
“The hot tub finishing was removed, cracks were sealed, and it was refinished. This allowed further testing of the various systems required to operate the hot tub; however, additional leaks were identified.”
But another leaking valve was also discovered during repairs, and “global supply chain challenges” have been cited for the delayed delivery of its replacement — between six to eight weeks, according to the commission.
“Once replaced, crews will continue investigating and making necessary repairs to reopen the hot tub,” the commission said.
“Troubleshooting these issues with the hot tub is highly complex due to the embedded piping in the concrete and inconsistencies between the construction drawings and actual findings," the commission said.
The pool opened in 1996 and is owned by the Peace River Regional District and operated by the City of Fort St. John, via the North Peace Leisure Pool Commission.
“We sympathetically understand the frustrations of not being able to use this well-loved local amenity, and we share in your frustrations,” said commission chair Trevor Bolin in a statement.
“Despite this frustration, we are thankful for the hard work of staff and contractors in applying modern solutions to this aging facility.”
The commission says it will provide another update on the progress of the hot tub repairs on Feb. 1.
It has provided this backgrounder for residents on the repairs to date:
City of Fort St. John - Leisure Pool Hot Tub Repairs Backgrounder by AlaskaHighwayNews on Scribd
