A “likely” lightning strike has caused the closure of a pool at the Hilliard Family Aquatic Center, the city announced on social media Aug. 12.
A part for the pump system for the interactive pool, beloved by young children, failed amid recent thunderstorms.
The good news, though, is that the interactive pool is just one of the pools at the complex — the rest of them remain open, city spokesperson Andrea Lichfield said.
The interactive pool is expected to be fixed in time for the new season to start next year, Lichfield said.
“We don’t have any information to indicate it’s a long-term challenge, but there’s just one week left in the (2025) pool season. We need a part and (we’re) probably not going to get it and get it installed within a week,” Litchfield said.
Pool staff have noticed that the variable frequency drive, which tells pumps how to run, hasn’t been working as it should recently. They found Aug. 12 that several electronic components were “fried,” which could have happened from lightning storms in recent weeks.
The Hilliard Family Aquatic Center closes for the season on Aug. 19, but the Clyde “Butch” Siedle Community Pool is staying open with reduced hours through Labor Day, according to the city website.
Anna Lynn Winfrey covers the western suburbs for the Columbus Dispatch. She can be reached at awinfrey@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: ‘Likely’ lightning strike leads to early closure of a children’s pool in Hilliard
Reporting by Anna Lynn Winfrey, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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