July 1, 1984

Firemen don't fill private swimming pools

       The days of calling the local fire department to bring out a truck to fill up the family swimming pool are gone for most people in Johnson County.  Howard Bennis, public relations spokesman for the Johnson County Firemen’s Association, said most fire departments don’t like to take a truck out of service to fill a pool.  So 4 year old Jason Cobb, Franklin, like others around the county, fills up his 20 gallon swimming pool the way the water company suggests by putting his garden hose in the pool, turning on the water, and waiting.  His mother, Charlene, said rain the past few days has kept Jason’s 1 foot pool brimming with water.  Bennis said some county fire departments will lend out hose and a valve for pool owners to hook onto a hydrant to fill their swimming pools.  “It’s pretty much decided on a case by case basis,” he said.  The White River Volunteer Fire Department follows that procedure with the Carefree subdivision’s Olympic sized pool, Bennis said, but only after getting clearance from the water company.  He said when water is taken from a fire hydrant, sediment in the lines mixes with the water, causing residents in the area to complain about rusty water.

         Jim Walsh, district manager for Indiana Cities Water Corp., recommends the hose in the pool method for people who own swimming pools and want to fill them up for summer.  He said an average of 10 gallons per minute will flow through a garden hose.  “If they are really in a hurry, they can get their neighbor to put their hose in too and invite them over for a swim later,” he said.  Filling a pool slowly lets the water warm up as the pool fills, he added.  “Besides, hydrants are for fire protection,” Walsh said.  Bert Kite, Chief of the Greenwood Volunteer Fire Department, agreed.  “We used to do it (fill pools.)  But now we feel like that’s a little beyond the realm of our responsibilities,” he said.  Kite said he followed Walsh’s advice and filled his new swimming pool with the garden hose.  It took him about 36 hours, he said.  Twenty five dollars later, Kite’s pool was filled with 21,000 gallons of water.

         Franklin Fire Chief Jack Matthews said he tells callers inquiring about filling swimming pools to contact a water-hauling company.  “Many, many, many years ago we filled pools, but not any more,” he said.  People in a hurry to dive into their pool can call businesses that perform the service.  Cut-Rite Water Delivery Service in Castleton is one company that has water to go.  Jerry Hurley, president of the company, said his business has filled several swimming pools in Greenwood and a few in Franklin.  His 5,000 gallon tanker trucks can unload in 15 minutes.  “We can fill an average 20,000 gallon pool in two hours,” he said.  He said the delivered price for his water is about 1 ½ cents per gallon.

         Bob Smith, a sanitarian with the Johnson County Health Department, inspects the 24 public swimming pools in the county, including the 300,000 gallon city pool in Greenwood and the 70,000 gallon pool at Kings Mill.  He said there is no way to know how many private swimming pools are in the county, but chances are most of the owners have faced the dilemma each year of how to turn an empty pool into summertime refreshment.
 
 

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