By Ryan Phillips
Temescal Pool, a City of Oakland facility next to Oakland Technical High School that has been closed since mid-September, is scheduled to reopen to the public on Nov. 9, the City of Oakland Public Information Office informed The Rockridge News.
According to a statement sent to The Rockridge News, “The City has made significant progress implementing repairs to Temescal Pool, though procuring some of the needed equipment took longer than anticipated, and maintenance work will be completed soon.”
The pool has been closed since an incident on Sept. 10 during the Temescal Aquatic Masters swim team’s early-morning practice. City staff arrived at the pool and found the water management system was turned off, something the swim team leadership noted was “exceptionally rare” in a message to swim team members.
City staff turned the machinery back on, releasing a rush of chemicals (chlorine and muriatic acid) into the pool. According to a message from the swim team, a swim team member called 911, and an ambulance transported two swimmers to the hospital. Two other swimmers who were in the pool at the time also later went to the hospital. An investigation by the City has not been concluded at this time.
Previously, the City announced on Sept. 30 that the pool was expected to reopen to the public at the end of October. That date was pushed back as the City worked to complete Alameda County Health Department-recommended safety improvements, according to
an Oct. 25 message the swim team sent to team members.
“Based on our discussion with the City, we understand that the last remaining change required before the pool can reopen is installing new state-required signage,” according to that message.
According to The Oaklandside in a story published on Oct. 20, a swimmer in the pool during the incident has filed a claim against the City, alleging negligence by the City, and claiming personal injury from chemical exposure and inhalation, and emotional distress. The City Attorney did not respond to interview requests from The Oaklandside, according to the story.
The City is also working to hire full-time pool technicians and an outside consultant to assess the city’s aquatic facilities. “This longer-term assessment is separate from the immediate work necessary to safely reopen Temescal Pool, and will result in a prioritized list of improvements for Temescal Pool and other City pools,” according to the Oct. 25 message to swim team members.
