Elk Grove pools, Arlington wading pools closed by recall

Three Elk Grove Park District pools and five Arlington Heights Park District wading pools will remain closed until further notice due to the recent nationwide safety recall of about one million pool drain covers.

The affected pools in Elk Grove are the indoor main pool and outdoor pool at the Pavilion Aquatic Center, and the Rainbow Falls Waterpark. They were scheduled to open today.

The lagoon pool at the Pavilion Aquatic Center will remain open, since the drain covers used there were not included in the recall, officials said. Swim lessons will continue at the lagoon pool, but lessons in the main pool have been canceled for Saturday and Sunday.

All five of the Arlington Heights Park District's wading pools will be drained of water and kept off-limits to the public, Director of Parks & Planning Brian Huckstadt said Friday.

All of the district's larger pools with more than 2 feet of depth will open on time. Two of the village's pools are opening today, and the rest are opening Saturday, June 4.

The U.S. Product Safety Commission announced the voluntary recall by eight manufacturers Thursday.

The agency said the recalled covers — manufactured between December 2008 and April 2011 — could pose a possible entrapment hazard to swimmers and bathers. But no injuries have been reported.

The recall was triggered by the discovery that the drain covers had received incorrect water flow ratings.

Elk Grove Park District officials said they have contacted the manufacturer who supplies the covers in their aquatic facilities in hopes of receiving a replacement or retrofit, but that it's unclear when that might happen. Huckstadt said the same was true in Arlington Heights, with heavy demand for the parts leaving it unclear how long it will take manufacturers to supply new covers.

Palatine Park District Parks & Planning Superintendent Pat Moser said the opening of Willow Pool, which is not scheduled until June 11, is the only one in question. Moser said he believes that pool's drain cover is not included in the recall, but officials haven't been able to reach the manufacturer to verify that. That pool is scheduled to be demolished at the end of the season.

A spot check of other suburban park districts revealed no further potential impacts from the recall.