The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

PRESCOTT—As the only area pool open last week, aside from Walla Walla, a flex pipe leak was the last thing the Prescott pool needed. Nonetheless, quick thinking by pool staff and help from Dunning Irrigation made for a quick repair and only two-day downtime.

Prescott Joint Park and Recreation District Manager Yvonne Jackson said she was notified of the initial leak on the evening of June 11. She made a quick stop at Home Depot and picked up four boxes of Flex Tape which they used to wrap the pipe, which held for six days.

In the meantime, Jackson met with Dunning Irrigation which was able to have a replacement part manufactured. The pool had a “full blowout” on the night of Mon., June 17, and the new part was ready the next morning.

Dunning Irrigation replaced the part on Tuesday morning and the pool was refilled and reheated on Wednesday, and back in business on Thursday.

“Dunning Irrigation was amazing. They did everything they could possibly do to get us up and going as quickly as possible,” Jackson said.

Being out of commission is bad news for those who enjoy the facility that is especially busy this year.

Friends of the Dayton Pool purchased passes for all children attending The Club as well as 20 at-large passes which can be used by anyone from Dayton. The Club attendees visit the pool each afternoon and Vista Hermosa brings kids from their day camp three days a week.

The Dayton Aquacise group meets at the Prescott Pool as well, with Columbia County Transportation providing free rides. CCPT will also pick up Waitsburg residents who would like to attend Aquacise.

Jackson says she currently has 11 lifeguards, but the pool is trying something new this year, in hopes of developing the interest of future guards, which can be hard to come by. Instead of traditional swimming lessons for Vista Hermosa 6th -9th graders, participants are being instructed in rudimentary lifeguard skills and endurance swimming.

“We hope this will assess their interest and susceptibility as to whether or not they are able to do it and to feed the need for lifeguards,” Jackson said.