No waste of water here
Published Friday May 30, 2008
BY Rich Kaipust
World - Herald Staff Writer
Pumping water into the Qwest Center pool looked easy for an Omaha Fire Department crew Thursday. Getting it ou after the U.S. Olympic Trials will turn into a challenge. Acting Assistant Chief Joe Fuxa said the fire department wants to use part of the removal as a training exercise on drafting and long relays. "Any time you can do this training before it's needed, it's an invaluable asset," Fuxa said. "We'll send a lot of personnel down and see how it works." Drafting is the practice of extracting water from a basin or pit by hard suction. Long relays, or long lays, are necessary when going a greater-than-usual distance from a hydrant to dispersal.
The July 7 exercise would send part of the 1.1 million gallons of water from the arena pool six-tenths of a mile to the lagoon at Heartland of America Park on the ConAgra campus. Fuxa said firefighters will train in shifts. The exercise will last about five to eight hours. "That way we're not just dumping it down the drain," Fuxa said. "But obviously we can't put it all over there, either." Chlorine and other chemicals first will be stripped from the water, which Fuxa said will leave it "cleaner when it comes out than when it actually goes in." Harold Cliff, chief operating officer for the U.S. Olympic Trials, said the fire department's involvement will ensure that it's done correctly and done rapidly so crews can start deconstruction. "I think it's a great idea for them," Cliff said. A fire truck backed into the Qwest Center, raised its ladder over the pool Thursday and poured the first 6 inches or so of water into the competition pool for the Mutual of Omaha Swimvitational (June 5 to 8) and the U.S. Trials (June 29 to July 6).That will sit and allow for the liner to stretch before the rest comes today in what will be an eight- to 10-hour
process.
Myrtha Pools USA President Trevor Tiffany said the fills usually start from inlets. Coming from above, however, would prevent any shifting in the 3 inches of sand that sit below the liner and between steel strappings. Plus it made for a nice photo opportunity. A firefighter went into the lower-bowl seats to take a shot. "Yes, this is for show," Tiffany said. "But for us this is ideal, because it gives a perfect initial fill." Once the pool is filled, Tiffany said, Myrtha workers will inspect it for seams. That already has taken place with the warmup pool in the convention center that was topped off last week. "We had little drips here and there, but not what you would call a leak," he said. "What you learn from the first oneyou make sure you correct with the next one." Surveyors were inside Thursday making sure the pool was exactly 50 meters long.
The filtration was set to be inspected Thursday night. Assistant Executive Director Mike Unger of USA Swimming even got to watch. He happened to be in Omaha for a meeting with Myrtha personnel. "Since May 12, I've been itching to get here for a day, just to see what's going on and be here for a part of the build, at least," Unger said. "I needed to get my juices flowing here this week. I've seen pictures - everybody's been sending me pictures - but I needed to get here." Cliff said the warmup pool could begin being drained late July 6 as the last of the U.S. Trials finals are being held. The Omaha Fire Department would have to wait on July 7 until after the U.S. Olympic team held its first training session in the arena pool from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. In looking for options other than simply draining both pools into the Missouri River, Cliff said he is glad Omaha and the fire department will be able to find other benefits. "I just think it's the right thing to do," he said. "I think there's a community awareness and onus on the community to try to do what you can. Throwing a couple million gallons of water away doesn't make a lot of sense."
• Contact the writer: 444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com
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