City aquatic center reopens after water main break prompts closure

Rachel Showalter
·1 min read

Arne Hanna Aquatic Center is open again Wednesday, Nov. 2, after a water main break in Bellingham prompted a closure of the facility Tuesday afternoon.

The aquatic center closed as of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1 until further notice, according to a social media post from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.

The water main break in the area caused water to be turned off to the facility, the post said.

Parks and Recreation expected to reopen the facility by 6 a.m. Wednesday with all regular Wednesday programs and events running as regularly scheduled, according to a later post made around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.

A city of Bellingham Public Works inspector noticed and reported a water leak at Lakeway and Orleans streets Tuesday morning, spokeswoman Amy Cloud wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald.

Crews were sent to make a temporary fix and complete the full repairs Wednesday to allow time for Arne Hanna to close, according to Cloud.

But after aquatic center staff noticed water pressure issues Tuesday afternoon, the pool was closed early and crews discovered the water main break, which was larger than expected, Cloud told The Herald.

The break was repaired around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and water service was restored to the area, according to Cloud.