By Kim McDarison
The Fort Atkinson City Council Tuesday approved a request made by the Parks and Recreation Department to replace a water slide pump at the Fort Atkinson Aquatic Center.
Parks and Recreation Director Brooke Franseen said the city’s aquatic center has a 175-foot water slide that is operated by a pump.
The pump in use at the center was purchased in 1992. Pumps of this variety have a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years, she said.
Franseen noted that the pump used with the slide at the center is rated for 1,425 gallons of water per minute and was put in place by the pool designer in anticipation that one day another slide might be added to the center’s slide tower.
“Our aquatic center has been running a pump that is much bigger than necessary, throttling the pump flow way down. We have no plans to add another slide to the tower,” Franseen said.
She noted that the city will save money in equipment and energy used over the long run by purchasing a new pump with a rating of 900 gallons per minute, which, she said, is the specification as labeled on the pipe that supplies water to the slide.
Looking at funding for the new pump, Franseen said, $13,000 was included within the aquatic center capital outlay budget for pump replacement.
Jefferson-based Carrico Aquatic Resources Inc., provided a quote to replace and install the pump of $15,026.
Franseen proposed that the remaining $2,026 needed to complete the project could be found within the aquatic center supplies/maintenance account.
She said installation prices could fluctuate depending upon compatibilities between the old pump and the new pump with regard to plumbing and valve replacements.
Council approved the cost of the new pump with installation costs not to exceed $3,500.
Responding to a question from council, Franseen said she pursued Carrico exclusively for a quote because the company and the city have a two-year maintenance contract, which is currently in its second year.
She said the company was very familiar with the equipment at the Fort Atkinson Aquatic Center, adding: “They are the only company we use to maintain our pool. They know when things have been replaced and what’s needed for our pool.”
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