From above, Johnson Center's Olympic-sized pool looks like an abandoned mine dug into one wing of the building.
The center's staff doesn't know when they will be able to reopen the pool, which has been closed for remodeling since November 2007. It was less than a month away from reopening in November when the project hit a snag.
In December 2007, President Bush signed a bill into law requiring all pools and hot tubs in the United States to be equipped with approved drain covers and other safety devices. The law is called the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act and went into effect Dec. 19, 2008. It was passed in an attempt to prevent child-drowning incidents caused by suction devices in pools.
Ken Lucas, aquatics manager at Johnson Center, said the law is more of a frustration than a help in UNM's case.
"The way our draining system is set up, it's almost impossible to drown as a result of the pool's draining system," he said.
Lucas said the draining system, which is 14 feet under water, consists of three separate drains.
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"For someone to get stuck by one of these drains, it would take two other people to block the other drains at the same time as well," he said. "It may be possible for someone's hair to get caught, but I don't think many people hang out at the bottom of the deep end of the pool anyway."
Lucas said the delay is frustrating because there is not a good system for ordering the correct drain coverings. He said the drains require custom-made coverings, which is adding to the reopening delay.
"We're stuck in no-man's land because the federal government has instituted this law, while at the same time, the covers that fit our pool haven't been (government) approved," he said. "We can't purchase the covers to comply with this act."
Lucas said the drain-updating project was estimated to cost more than $6 million.
"We don't know yet how much the final project will cost," he said. "We're just holding off on how much work will have to be done once the pool's finished. As far as I know, I don't know of any additional costs coming along."
Meanwhile, the center's other pool is in full compliance, but its small size limits what activities it can host.
Robert Hohnke, former head lifeguard for the center, said he is asked daily when the Olympic pool will reopen.
"It definitely affects how many classes we can offer," he said.
Hohnke is a graduate student at UNM and also teaches three swimming classes.
"Once the pool reopens, we will be able to offer many more classes," he said. "Johnson pool only has six lanes. The Olympic pool has 22."
Rachel Harmon, also a graduate student, said she has been swimming at UNM for five years.
"The schedule is pretty much the same," she said. "It's just a smaller space and there are more people. Sometimes you have to wait for a lane. You don't always get as long of a workout as you would like."
Lucas said he had to scrap a recruitment plan for lifeguards and employees he would have hired if not for the delay.
"In October, I started to go to all the PE and triathlon classes, as well as talking to people within Johnson Center, to get 15 to 20 more students to lifeguard," he said. "That plan was nixed once I found out (about the delay)."
Lucas said swimming programs, which have brought money into the center in the past, have been delayed as well.
"We have a lot of loyal people who are waiting for our pool to open to bring their kids to our program," he said. "They are holding out for us."
