Austinites looking forward to an end-of-summer celebratory Barton Springs dip this Labor Day weekend were disappointed, thanks to a safety hazard caused by two major leaks that has led to a weekslong indefinite closure of the pool. The pool has been out of commission since Aug. 29, when the city’s Parks and Recreation Department announced a temporary closure for maintenance. Over the weekend, according to a city press release, multiple city departments assessed that repairs will now take several weeks, with no firm timeline for reopening.
This Parks and Recreation Department photo shows a temporary repair at the Barking Springs outflow.
Despite rumors of a sinkhole, the issue is more mechanical, stemming from two holes in an abandoned skimmer pipe estimated to be from the 1940s. The holes are pulling water into the pipe below the pool’s dam, creating a safety hazard for swimmers. City staff has temporarily reduced the water loss, but are still working on a permanent solution. According to the city, the leaks have nothing to do with maintenance on the Joan Means Khabele bathhouse, which has been closed since June for renovations.
“The damages create conditions that pose a significant safety risk, up to and including loss of life,” according to a press release from the city. “City engineering staff are working to develop a long-term solution that accounts for environmental issues, protection of endangered species, as well as public safety.”
Luckily, a PARD spokesperson told the Austin Monitor, in the short term, the water loss from the leaks “did not have any effect on the salamander habitat or any other environmental features of the pool.”
Long term, PARD, Austin Water and the Watershed Protection Department are working together on repairs that “will likely take several weeks to complete,” though timelines could be adjusted depending on how conditions evolve. The city will provide periodic public updates as repairs continue.
Barking Springs, or the free side of Barton Springs, is technically still open, though the city notes that visitors should avoid cordoned-off areas.
“Barton Springs Pool is Austin’s crown jewel and we want nothing more than to make the repairs quickly and safely,” interim Parks and Recreation Director Angela Means said in a press release. “As we learn more about the timeline for repairs, we’ll keep all residents up to date.”
With cooler weather coming, an extended springs closure isn’t the blow it would have been in the depths of summer heat. However, the city notes that Deep Eddy Pool will open two hours earlier than usual – every day at 6 a.m. “to accommodate early swimmers” while Barton undergoes repairs.
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Barton Springs Pool: This man-made, spring-fed recreational pool is rightly considered the spiritual center of Austin. Despite its intimidatingly cool waters, it remains a popular year-round swimming spot for Austinites of all ages.
City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department: The city department responsible for the city's park system, rec centers, and associated infrastructure.
