Energy efficiency repairs, upgrades base pool

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Charles Dickens
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Columbus Air Force Base won the first two Air Education and Training Command Energy Incentive Awards of fiscal year 2012, with each award contributing $250,000 for the base to use toward base facilities improvements.

Columbus AFB is using the $500,000 to repair and upgrade the base pool with construction to be completed in time for the 2013 swimming season, beginning the weekend prior to Memorial Day.

"The purpose of this project is to repair a leaking pool," said Dan Frick, 14th Civil Engineer Squadron Pool Project Manager. "We're losing between 3,000 and 5,000 gallons of water per day due to leaking piping and filtration. You're going to lose some water from splashing and evaporation, but we're losing much more than what you would normally lose."

The repair and remodel process will include replacing the pool liner, gutter drain system, circulation piping, pool filter and other behind-the-scene items.

The biggest changes that pool patrons will notice are new water slides, a new diving board, and an Americans with Disabilities Act compliant lift chair to allow handicap access to the pool.

"We are also putting down a cool-deck coating over the entire concrete pool deck," said Frick. "It will be high friction to make it less likely to slip and it will also be cooler to the touch so that it won't be as hot on your feet."

According to Frick, the project is currently in design and is 65 percent complete. The 14th CES is working to ensure that all specifications for this design are met to have the project completed before the summer swimming season.

"With a successful project, this will save us approximately 300,000 gallons of water per year," said Frick.