Temporary fix to keep leaking Harris Hill Pool open through summer

CHEMUNG COUNTY, N.Y. (WETM) – A temporary fix will keep the leaking Harris Hill Pool open through the summer before it closes for extended repairs, County Executive Chris Moss told legislators at a committee meeting Monday night.

Executive Moss told legislators the pool had lost 14 inches of water before the leak was somehow stopped. As we first reported on Saturday , Executive Moss sent an email to legislators saying the pool could close due to a “substantial water leak that currently cannot be located.” 18 News obtained the email Moss sent on Thursday June 20th. It read:

Please be advised that earlier this date I was contacted by Buildings & Grounds in reference to the shallow section of Harris Hill Pool which has a substantial water leak that cannot currently be located.  Due to the fact that the majority of the infrastructure for the pool is encased in concrete, this issue proposes a major challenge of not only finding the leak but a strategy to repair the leak once located.  We may have to close the entire pool depending on what the final outcome of the cause is due to the type of heavy duty equipment that would be needed to cut through the concrete to access return piping.  Additionally, yesterday set a record for the number of individuals who visited the pool in recent years.  It’s unfortunate this has occurred during the current weather situation, but Buildings and Grounds is on top of it and will advise as soon as a solution is rendered.

At Monday night’s legislative Committe meeting, Executive Moss was asked about the status of the pool by County Legislator Lawana Morse.

“I sent a personal correspondence to the legislature to keep them updated that the pool had leaked about 14 inches,” Moss said. “Buildings and Grounds has come up with a temporary fix. Hopefully we can hold the water until the fall when the pool closes down. I didn’t realize it was going to be forwarded to the media, which caused everybody to call and want their money back for lessons that were being given in the pool. It’s operating fine the last couple of days. The water level has not decreased.”

18 News reached out to the County Executive today to ask if a decision had been made to close the pool for repairs. Here is the response we received:

“Harris Hill pool hours are indicted below, there are no current plans to amend those hours of operation, if so, a news release will be forwarded accordingly. “

Harris Hill Pool

• Open from June 15 through mid-August
• Open from noon to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends
• Weather or staffing issues could impact the pool’s hours
• Fees are available on Chemung County’s website “

At a meeting of the Multi-Services Committee on Monday night, legislators voted to authorize an application for a New York State Grant for the “Rehabilitation of Harris Hill Pool.” The resolution reads:

“The Chemung County Planning Department will apply for the 2024 New York Statewide Investment In More Swimming (NY SWIMS) Program grant administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York in an amount up to $200,000. This award will be used to rehabilitate the pool at Harris Hill. Prior work will demonstrate a 20% match.”

Chemung County is also applying for a $30,000 state grant to “improve lifeguard retention in the County.”

You can read all of the resolutions from Monday night’s committee meetings here.

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