Silver Springs pool renovation project delayed by groundwater seepage

People in the northwest Calgary community of Silver Springs will have to wait another year to swim in the neighbourhood'soutdoor pool.

Renovations were supposed to be completed last month, but they're taking longer than expected.

Groundwater has been seeping into the pool's basin causing construction delays.

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"We were going along fine and then we had this glitch with water in the basin," said Jack Birkett,aquatics operations coordinator with the city.

"We think it's stoppedbut until we give it a couple of days, we're not going to be positive. And then subsequent to that, the pool basin, once it stops leaking, requires 21 days of curing timebefore we can paint it."

Coun. Ward Sutherland,who represents the area, says the delay is disappointingbut there's not much else that can be done.

"We're not willing to rush the project and then have continual problems year after year. We have to do it right," he said.

"No one is really happy about it,the contractor's not, the city's not, I'm not, the community's not. But what happens happens and they're dealing with it appropriately."

City officials saylifeguards hired to work at the Silver Springs pool are being posted to other locations.

Swim lessons already booked will be honoured at nearby pools.

The Silver Springs outdoor pool is expected to open in time for the 2018 season.

It will have a switchback ramp at the shallow end to make it easier for people with reduced mobility to use the pool.

The outdoor pool has been a fixture in the community since 1974.