The City of Fort St. John has temporarily closed the leisure pool and waterslides at the North Peace Leisure Pool after staff identified an issue with a circulation pump.
During routine monitoring, our pool operations staff noticed unusual pressure readings and pump performance issues. Further inspection revealed significant internal corrosion within the pump. As a precaution, the equipment was immediately removed from service to prevent further damage to pool systems and infrastructure. By identifying the problem early, staff helped avoid a more significant equipment failure that could have affected additional components, including filtration, heating, and water treatment systems.
"The diligence of our maintenance staff allowed us to identify this issue before it became a much larger problem," said Kylah Bryde, Director of Community Services. "Their quick response helped protect the facility and ensure the safety of both staff and facility users."
Due to the required repairs, the leisure pool and waterslides are expected to remain closed for approximately 2 weeks while the work is completed. During this time, staff will continue assessing the condition of related equipment and reviewing maintenance schedules to help prevent similar issues in the future.
While repairs are underway, the incident also highlights the challenges of maintaining aging aquatic infrastructure. The North Peace Leisure Pool has served the community for decades; however, many of its core mechanical systems are approaching the end of their service life and require increasing maintenance and replacement. The City is currently advancing the Aquatics Facility project to address these long-term infrastructure needs and support the growing demand for aquatic and recreational services in our community.
Apart from the leisure pool and water slides, the remainder of the North Peace Leisure Pool facility remains open. Residents are encouraged to check the City's online Drop-In Activity Schedules for the latest information on facility operations and programming.
Updates will be posted on the City's website and social media channels as they become available.
The North Peace Leisure Pool is owned by the Peace River Regional District and operated by the City of Fort St. John.