Divers called into Hucknall swimming pool

A massive water leak underneath Hucknall swimming pool has been found – meaning the pool will have to be closed for between three and four weeks.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The leak, which “may have been present for a significant period of time” requires complex work to fix it, with some of the affected pipes buried three metres underground.

It has been estimated the cost of the complex repair could be up to £50,000.

The underground leak was only identified after a half-hourly water meter was installed at the Ashfield District Council-owned pool, at Hucknall Leisure Centre, Linby Road.

IN OTHER NEWS:

M1 crash sparks alert to drivers

Owner called 999 because dog ran away

Sport and Leisure Management, which runs the pool on behalf of the council, spotted that there was high water demand when the pool was closed – when theoretically it should not have been demanding any water.

They brought a firm in to investigate, who then used a ‘diving team’ and cameras in the pipelines to work out where the problem was.

After ruling out various possible places for the leak, the team discovered the leak is in four to six metres of pipework, 3m underground, parallel between the pool and the spectator area.

The pipes are “buried in the building foundations/structure and are therefore very difficult to access”.

A structural engineer investigated the pool, and it is not thought the leak has damaged the pool itself.

While digging up the poolside area to get to the affected pipes divers will be “employed to ensure that at all times the bungs in the pool floor do not move, to ensure the working area is not flooded”.

Once finished, there will be a deep clean of the pool area, to remove any dust or debris which may have been caused from the excavation.

A report on the issue said: “Given the extent of the leak, it is considered essential a repair is carried out immediately.”

It is hoped work will start at the beginning of May, though an exact date has not yet been set.