Blissfield Aquatic Center reopens today with new pump after closure

BLISSFIELD — Blissfield’s Aquatic Center is set to reopen today after being closed for more than two weeks because of an unexpected failure of its main pump.

On Tuesday, a new pump was scheduled to have been installed at the aquatic center, 304 Sugar St., with the pump coming to Blissfield from Saginaw, Blissfield Village Administrator Danielle Gross said. It was, however, the second replacement pump the village attempted to order after the original pump went down in mid-July.

“We ran into some complications with the (originally ordered) pump when we found out the pump in Florida was missing a key part and would not be available until the end of August,” Gross said in an announcement July 28. “We quickly changed paths and were able to find a different model pump that would work and is even located here in Michigan. This did require us to submit a modification permit to the state again, which we have done and is approved. I did make a special trip to Livonia to ensure our down payment on the pump was made and they had our signed proposal to ensure no further delays.”

While the aquatic center’s pump “has been acting up a little bit,” Gross told The Daily Telegram, she was unsure of what caused the pump to ultimately fail, saying it could have been “worn down or overheated.”

“There may have been a number of things that could have contributed to the pump failing,” she said.

Swimming pool pumps, especially those in use at public facilities, are critical to ensuring the cleanliness of the water. They cycle the water so that it can be properly circulated with the added chlorine and other chemicals that are needed to kill any bacteria that may be in the water.

The state of Michigan has a requirement on the specific number of gallons of water that are to be cycled through a pump per minute, Gross said.

“It’s a public pool, and we want to make sure the experience is the best it can be for our visitors and as clean as it can be,” she said.

Pumps are also a pricey fix, Gross said.

Along with the pump and a strainer and a basket, which work in tandem to filter out any solid objects in the water, like leaves or sticks, the cost amounted to $18,000.

The village is also working on getting its hands on an additional pump to be used as a spare should its newly purchased pump break down.

“We are trying to be proactive,” Gross said.

From July 2020:Blissfield Aquatic Center to have grand opening

More:Community Briefs: Aug. 5, 2023

In the fall of 2022, the village received a sizable donation of $178,000 from the Helen “Lois” Bailey Trust Fund, which designated that those monies be used to fund anything at the aquatic center. Thus far, Gross said, some funds have been used for maintenance. The $18,000 purchase of the new pump was paid for from the Bailey Trust Fund.

Next year, during the aquatic center’s 2024 summer season, users will be able to utilize a new, shaded picnic area that has been ordered, Gross said.

While the aquatic center has been closed these last couple of weeks, staff and Blissfield’s department of public works crews have been working to vacuum the pool, add chemicals and clean the edges in an effort to keep the water as clean as possible, Gross said.

Hours at the Blissfield Aquatic Center for Saturdays are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The pool is open through Aug. 27 and then again on Labor Day weekend from Sept. 1 through Sept. 4. It is generally closed on Mondays but will be open from noon to 8 p.m. on Labor Day, Sept. 4, for its final day of the season.

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For complete facility hours and a schedule, visit www.tinyurl.com/mt3ypck8, grab a calendar at the aquatic center or find a calendar at the Blissfield Village Office, 130 S. Lane St.