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October 9, 2008

Planned east Splashpad may use 'single-pass' water system

Risk of 'Crypto' would be lowered

By Carol Cole-Frowe

A planned Splashpad in the Colonial Estates Park on Lindsey Street in southeast Norman would be constructed in a way that would reduce chances of Cryptosporidiosis or "Crypto," which closed Norman's original Splashpad this summer in Andrews Park.

The 14-feature Colonial Estates Splashpad is proposed to have a "single-pass" system instead of a "recirculated" system like the 15-feature Andrews Park, which was installed in fiscal year 2005.

Councilmembers budgeted $220,000 in fiscal year 2008 for the Colonial Estates Splashpad. FY 2008 ended June 30.

Building the Splashpad as a single-pass system would cost about $140,000. The remaining $80,000 would be used for benches, tables and shade structures.

Councilmembers voted in 2005 before the Andrews Park Splashpad construction for Norman Splashpads to use a recirculating system for all Splashpads. That was before the Crypto outbreak that closed the Andrews Park Splashpad in late September.

Now recirculating systems are being rethought.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health has changed its requirements for Splashpads with recirculated systems. Now it requires Splashpads with recirculated systems to include a bath house with heated indoor showers or a combination of restrooms and ultraviolet treatment components for the water.

The OSDH requirements would cost about $362,000 to build the Colonial Estates Splashpad as a recirculated system.

"Crypto organism is very small and can work its way through the system," Norman Parks and Recreation Director Jud Foster said, as the reason for the additional requirements.

Operational costs would be higher for a single-pass Splashpad because of water usage.

Water usage is projected to be about 33,600 gallons per day for a single-pass Colonial Estates Splashpad. If the pad were open for a 154-day season, water costs would be about $10,866 average. For a 94-day season from Memorial Day to Labor Day, water costs would be $6,632 per year average.

The Splashpad could be run by a timer that's triggered by a touch ball, Foster said.

That contrasts with the recirculated Andrews Park Splashpad, which is open 154 days per season. It cost $150,000 to construct and uses 600 gallons per day, plus $2,600 per year in chemicals and $2,750 per year in electric costs. There is also 300 man hours per year of service by the City of Norman's in-house staff, which would cost about $20 per hour if hired from outside sources.

"The pass-through system is what's recommended by the health department," Foster said.

Mayor Cindy Rosenthal asked if some of the Splashpad water could be captured.

"We could catch some of it and irrigate with it," Foster said.

Carol Cole-Frowe 366-3538 ccole@normantranscript.com

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