Message from the Mayor: City investigates persistent leak at pool facility

by Joann Schmidt, Sleepy Eye Mayor

City staff are working to pinpoint the source of a persistent leak at the Sleepy Eye Family Aquatic Center pool, a prob￾lem that has continued despite weeks of monitoring and testing.

The main pool has been losing water at a rate that indicates a significant leak somewhere within the system. While crews have inspected visible plumbing, surface areas, and mechanical com￾ponents, the exact location remains undetermined.

One possibility under review is a set of check valves located at the bottom of the lap pool, which connect into the broader circulation system. Staff emphasize that this is only a working theory at this stage, and no confirmation has been made.

A city representative told me they are narrowing down the possibilities, but haven’t found the definitive source yet and some of the components they need to inspect are below the pool floor, which makes the process more complex.

The city is coordinating with pool maintenance specialists to conduct further pressure testing and evaluate underground lines. Depending on the findings, repairs could range from mi￾nor valve replacement to more exten￾sive excavation.

City officials say they will keep res￾idents informed as the investigation continues, noting that the goal is to complete repairs with as little dis￾ruption to summer programming as possible.