Solar powered showers not powered enough
LINDEN – Linden swimming pool showers shunned.
Two residents have complained that the new solar powered showers installed at Linden Swimming Pool, are ineffective.
Six months ago the pool underwent massive renovations worth about R16.5 million which included, new solar powered showers.
Blairgowrie resident Suzanne Blankenberg (71), said the installation of showers was a negative change. She said she has swam at the pool for the past twelve years.
“The consequence is that on less than sunny days and when the sun does not rise until later, the showers are cold,” explained Blankenberg.
“Swimmers dash to the unkempt changing area [straight after swimming] and get dressed as quickly as possible before freezing to death. The one reward that one looks for when swimmers are in the pool has been taken away from us.”
Randburg Sun spoke to another swimmer, who only gave her first name as Ariaan, leaving the premises without using a shower.
She explained that generally before 9am the water coming from the showers is “freezing cold” and afterwards it gets hot, although she did not believe the weather was responsible for this disparity.
“I am an architect,” said Ariaan. “The reason for the freezing water up to 9am is not the weather but the design of the piping.”
The cashier at the pool Wendy Henecke, said occasionally poor weather cause showers to be cold and when this occurs swimmers often choose to shower at their homes. Ward 99 councillor Bruce Herbert was disappointed that residents were unhappy with the new showers. “You cannot please everybody,” he said. “But I will look into this complaint.” He said the renovations included a new filtration system, tiles, shower doors, lights, paving and repainting the building. The sum total of renovations is about R16.5 million. Blankenberg also complained about two currents in the pool, which she alleged are caused by pumps, vacuums and pipes. She claimed that one pulls sideways and the other pulls from the deep to the shallow end, and they were made worse due to the renovations.
