USF’s Campus Recreation Center’s pool has been experiencing ongoing issues and closures due to high chlorine levels and system failures. ORACLE PHOTO/MARIA DE ABREU PIRES

USF’s Campus Recreation Center’s indoor pool has been closed repeatedly since November due to ongoing issues with its hot water system. 

The indoor pool is a 25-yard, eight-lane lap pool designed for fitness, swimming and training, according to USF. 

Alfred Gentilini, the director of USF Recreation and Wellness, said the pool and locker rooms’ hot water system is powered by a mechanical system in the pool pump room.

Still, Gentilini said high chlorine levels in the pump room have led some system components to “deteriorate” faster than normal, leading to ongoing system failures. 

“When it is not functioning properly, the system cannot reliably regulate pool water temperature, which means the pool needs to be closed to comply with safety and operational standards,” Gentilini said.

Gentilini said repairs to address this issue are underway, but did not provide a completion timeline.

USF students who rely on the REC’s pool for exercise and training said the closures caused frustration over access and communication.

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Zian Zhong, a freshman health sciences major, said he did not use the REC’s pool during the fall semester but had planned to start using it this spring. 

However, Zhong said the indoor pool was closed when he first tried to swim at the start of the spring semester, which delayed his plans.

“I couldn’t do anything,” Zhong said. “I was disappointed because I was finally ready to start again.”

Zhong said he attended the REC regularly last semester and also noted ongoing issues with the locker room showers. 

“Sometimes the water is warm, but most of the time it’s barely warm, especially when I go later in the morning,” Zhong said. “I still use the gym equipment, but the shower situation makes it less comfortable.”

Gentilini said warm water can still flow into the locker room showers with continuous temperature monitoring and manual flow adjustments while repairs to the hot water system are underway.

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Harini Harsha Sondur, a junior biomedical sciences major, said she has regularly used the REC’s indoor pool to exercise since her first semester at USF.

Sondur said intermittent closures have disrupted her routine and made it difficult to plan her schedule around classes and extracurricular activities.

“Even during the fall semester, there were times where the water was cold, and the showers were not really working,” she said. “I stopped taking showers there as there often is a water problem and did not want to risk anything.”

Sondur said she is aware of other students facing similar frustrations — like her friend, who was training for a triathlon when the pool was initially closed due to hot water system issues.

Additionally, Sondur said “inconsistent” communication about pool availability has made it difficult to know when the amenity is open to students.

“The closures mentioned are really inconsistent,” Sondur said. “Just to be sure, I sometimes call the REC [to ask] if the pool is open or not when I try to go for early morning swims.”

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Lovesh Kumar, a senior computer science major, said the frequent indoor pool closures have made it difficult for students, including himself, to plan their workouts.

“The timings keep changing, which makes it inconvenient to access the pool, and a lot of times it is closed,” Kumar said.

Kumar said communication about closures is not always reliable, even when checking through the REC’s online calendar.

“I always check the website, but sometimes the website isn’t updated,” Kumar said.

He said it becomes difficult to use the pool when closures are unpredictable.

“If I want to use the pool that day, I have to plan my entire day around it,” Kumar said.