Kristen Oxley
Assistant Editor
April 28, 2006
Milligan's pool in the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse is still under
repair after 32 containers of Kool-Aid was dumped into the pool as a prank on
Terrific Tuesday, April 7.
"The chemicals from the Kool-Aid bottomed out the chlorine and killed the pH,"
said Director of Facilities Jonathan Robinson.
Robinson said it was the preservatives, dye and flavoring that damaged the
pool's chemicals. Chlorine would not even register in the chlorine tests.
Physical plant mechanic Scott Ritchie shocked the 176,000-gallon pool to try to
bring the chlorine levels back up, adding quick-dissolving chlorine to rapidly
increase chlorine levels. The pool has been shocked five times since the
incident occurred, and Robinson said about 300 pounds of the highly concentrated
chlorine have been added. According to Robinson, they waited a few days between
each shock.
In addition to shocking the pool, normal chlorine and chemicals to balance the
pH, including baking soda, have also been added. The pool became a milky white
color and developed foam on top because the chemicals were trying to get rid of
the Kool-Aid particles.
Ritchie has been taking a sample of the pool water to Isaac's Pools every day to
have the chemical levels tested. Ritchie then used Isaac's Pools' test results
and recommendations to make decisions on what to do next.
The Kool-Aid did damage to more than just the chemicals. One of the pool's five
filters broke Monday due to the amount of particles it has collected.
Milligan has five silica sand filters to clean particles out of the water. The
sand catches the particles and filters the water that goes back into the pool.
The only way to get rid of the Kool-Aid is to break up the particles with a
chemical called Super Blue so they can be filtered. The first filter has
collected more particles than it can handle because of the Kool-Aid powder. The
inner membrane of the filter broke, and, as a result, the pool is pushing sand
back into the pool. Robinson said he is looking into getting a new filter which
will cost between $750 and 1,000.
Ten students have been charged by school administration for the prank. According
to Robinson, each student wil pay $195 to cover the $2,000 cost o