New Heater at DC Pool Brews Controversy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A heated controversy is growing over a $75,000 heater installed at the District's East Potomac Pool.

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty sometimes uses the pool to train for triathlons. The pool is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend, and some say at a time when the District is slashing the budget elsewhere, the expense is curious.

The heater was installed without any fanfare at the East Potomac Pool at Haines Point. District officials say it is part of an "extended outdoor pool pilot program for district swimmers."

Few people seemed to know about the program, not even D.C. Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr., Chairman of the Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation.

"We just had a summer oversight hearing where I would have thought the director would have raised the point that we're running this wonderful pilot, and this never came up in that hearing, so that raises a little bit of a red flag for me," said Thomas.

The pool is one of 19 outdoor pools in the District, and it is a favorite for many competitive swimmers, including Mayor Fenty. Some DC residents wonder if that is the real reason for the heater.

Ian Thorne uses the pool regularly and believes, "special people get special privileges." He adds, "I think it's ridiculous. It's not a need."

Councilmember Thomas says he's concerned about the secrecy and the dollars being spent for a heater that will be in use for roughly 10 weeks a year. He believes the real cost is closer to $180,000.

“You have to look at utility costs that it's going to incur," said Thomas. "You have to tale a million gallons of water through that system to heat it. People need to understand the cost it's going to incur; the long term issues it may have."

Thomas says he's going to send a letter asking for all of the documentation surrounding the pool and the cost of the heater.

"I know we're in the 90-degree season," said Thomas. "These pools are gonna heat up and I just don't think it's financially prudent to do this type of pilot program, especially when we're cutting day care and other pilot programs that mean so much."

The mayor's spokesperson Mafara Hobson says the mayor knows about the heater and is comfortable with the thousands of dollars spent to install it, even in these tough economic times.
It isn't known if the District's pilot program will be expanded to other outdoor pools.