The Gaunt Park pool will open at its usual time on Friday, June 21, after water samples came back showing no signs of contamination following an overuse of herbicides last week. However, the grassy area around the pool will be fenced off as soil test results were inconclusive.
Swimming pool opens Friday
- Published: June 20, 2013
Village Council agreed at a special meeting on Thursday, June 20, that the Gaunt Park pool will open at its usual time on Friday, June 21, after water tests came back showing that the pool water had not been contaminated by an overuse of herbicide on June 12. The pool will open at 11 a.m. as usual, and Sea Dog swim team members will hold a practice at 9 a.m.
According to a press release from the Greene County Combined Health District, “laboratory results of water samples taken from the swimming pool for the herbicide’s active ingredient indicate that all ingredients tested showed values below detectible limits.”
“The news is encouraging,” Council President Judith Hempfling said at the meeting.
However, soil samples from the grassy area around the pool where the herbicide was sprayed showed trace elements of contaminants, so the grass will be cordoned off so that no one walks on it. Village staff will put up the fencing early in the morning, Council members said, and the soil samples have been sent to the Ohio Department of Health for interpretation of the results, according to GCCCHD Environmental Health Director Deb Leopold.
About 50 villagers attended the meeting to hear the results of water and soil tests following the herbicide overuse last week, which resulted in the closing of the pool last Friday. Many spoke of their frustrations and concerns regarding the situation.
A more detailed story on the meeting will be in the June 27 issue of the Yellow Springs News. This Web site will continue to post updates on the pool situation.
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