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Consultant warns Navasota lap pool fails current code; council directs staff to prepare funding and procurement
Summary
A Landmark Aquatics assessment found the lap pool’s mechanical systems cannot meet current turnover requirements and recommended new pumps, filters, a flow meter, main-drain work and ADA-compliant access; council directed staff to bring financing and procurement documents to the Nov. 12 meeting to prioritize fixes for the 2025 season.
Jennifer Reyna, Navasota public works director, introduced a Landmark Aquatics assessment of the city’s pools and mechanical systems and asked the council for guidance on next steps.
Steven, a mechanical engineer with Landmark, told the council that the lap pool’s circulation system likely cannot meet the code-mandated turnover rate. “The entire volume of the water needs to be turned over every 6 hours,” he said, and using pump and motor ratings he estimated the current system often achieves closer to an 8– or 9‑hour turnover when filters are dirty. He recommended installing new pumps, motors, piping, larger filters, strainer baskets and a properly calibrated digital flow meter to accurately measure turnover.
Steven said main drains and suction piping also raised safety and code concerns and noted a September 2023 leak‑detection report that recommended replacing main drains. He told council trenching and sump access near a 10‑foot‑deep portion of the lap pool will likely be required to reach and repair the piping. He also recommended a permanently fixed ADA pool lift (the existing portable lift does not meet the cited accessibility standard) and waterproofing and replastering work to address ongoing leaks.
Council discussed phasing options to reduce immediate budget impact. A council member observed, “It’s gonna be $500,000 by the time it’s over with,” and Steven concurred that packing work into one mobilization generally reduces overall cost increases tied to multiple mobilizations. Staff recommended using cooperative buy boards where legal to speed procurement and said alternatives could be included in contract documents for replastering of the kiddie pool if council opts to proceed with that work later.
The council did not vote on a construction contract tonight. Instead, members expressed a near‑term preference to prioritize mechanical items needed to meet turnover and ordered staff to prepare procurement documents and a reimbursement resolution so pre‑issuance costs could be reimbursed from future debt. Staff said they will return with formal items at the next regular meeting on Nov. 12.
Why it matters: without the mechanical upgrades and verified turnover, staff and the consultant said the pool risks failing health‑code requirements and may not be safe to open for the 2025 season absent repairs.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 289; topfinish SEG 1024.
