Working through challenges at Cromwell Pool
The first full winter in operation is proving to be a challenge for the new heating system at the Cromwell Pool.
In July last year, the Central Otago District Council (CODC) converted the pool’s heating system from LPG gas to a water-sourced heat pump. The conversion’s main benefit is a significant reduction in the Council’s carbon emissions.
This is the Cromwell Pool’s first winter in the operation of this new system, and as temperatures have cooled off, the system in its current set up, has at times not been able to maintain the pools to the optimum temperatures, particularly the spa.
Council and its contractors are continuing to refine the new system to get it working at its best, CODC Group Manager - Community Experience David Scoones said.
“This new system operates using energy gained from Cromwell’s main water supply lines and our monitoring systems show that at times there isn’t the amount of consistent water flow to meet the design need of the new heat pump, as one example.”
Contractors will be adding an extra heat reclaim coil in the exhaust airstream of the pool to compensate for when the street-main water flow dropped too low, he said.
People might have noticed that the pool had been colder than usual on some days, CODC Aquatics Manager Carly Getson said.
“I would like to thank the public for their patience while we work through these issues, which are fairly unique to the operating system of a water-sourced heat pump.”
