Water costs, supply force closure of base pools

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SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Rising costs for trucked-in water have forced base officials to make the tough decision to shut down the base pools for the summer.

The main pool next to the Solid Rock Café will remain open until June 16; all other pools are closed effective immediately.

"Basically what we have is the law of supply and demand in action," said 82nd Mission Support Group Commander Col. William Peterson. "Not only has the demand for trucked-in water spiked dramatically in the local area, but the drought has started to affect the outlying cities where we were buying water."

The end result is that while the base had originally planned to spend about $2,000 per week to keep the pools open, the actual cost has risen to about $2,000 per day.

"We just can't justify that kind of expense, especially given the overall fiscal environment," Peterson said. "Worse, if we keep our pools open and continue trucking in water, we'll end up competing directly with the city of Wichita Falls for the water supply, driving up costs and limiting availability for the whole community."

Peterson said the other option -- to use city water to keep the pools open, which as a wholesale customer the base is technically allowed to do - was dismissed out of hand.

"I think it's pretty obvious it's the wrong thing to do in a Stage 5 drought situation," he said. "We're all in this together and the whole community, including Sheppard, needs to work as a team to get through this. Running our pools with city water is not what a good teammate does, and honestly it was not something we ever seriously considered. It may be technically allowed, but that doesn't make it right or prudent."

Rather than use city water or compete for trucked-in water resources, the base is instead working on a cooperative arrangement with the city that benefits everyone.

"We're working with the city and looking at our own Morale, Welfare and Recreation funds to see if we can arrange for reduced-cost or subsidized passes to the pools and water recreation areas downtown, like Castaway Cove, for our military members and families," Peterson said. "Not only will this give our families affordable access to these facilities, but it will also augment the city's revenue and help defray their costs for trucking in water."

Peterson said he expects to have the details worked out within a week to 10 days, if not sooner. Officials are also working to provide transportation for students and others who do not have vehicles available.

"As soon as we have the details finalized, we'll get word out to the base," he said. "In the meantime, the team at Outdoor Recreation will be contacting all those who bought season passes for the base pools to arrange pro-rated refunds on those."

For more information on pool passes and refunds, call Outdoor Recreation Office. For information on other Sheppard recreational activities, go to www.82FSS.com.