Indiana companies help fill, purify pool water for U.S. Olympic Swim Trials
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowTwo years ago, organizers reached out to ask the biggest question of all surrounding the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in Indianapolis: could the city provide enough water to host the trials?
The answer was “yes,” and all of the water to fill two and a half Olympic pools comes from a single hydrant just outside Lucas Oil Stadium. Then, two Indiana companies take over to make sure it’s ready for showtime.
“It’s definitely the most famous hydrant in the state right now,” said Paul Dicken, director of water distribution with Citizens Energy Group. “But it’s a typical fire hydrant.”
Dicken told Business of Health Reporter Kylie Veleta that Citizens has done similar projects, but not on the magnitude of the swim trials.
“This is unique, obviously,” he said. “We hooked up some hoses to the hydrant, turn the hydrant on and connected to Spear Corp.’s piping that ran all the way into the Lucas Oil. We didn’t have to do a thing to the system, amazingly.”
Once all 2 million gallons of water were pumped into Lucas Oil, Spear Corp., a family-owned operation in Putnam County, took over. About 10 semi-truck loads delivered Spear’s massive piping and filtration system designed to pump the water to perfection.
“We’re flowing about 3,000 gallons a minute for each pool through the system, and it’s UV treated as well,” said Brian Spear, president of Spear Corp. “So it goes through UV treatment before it goes back to the pool, and we chemically treat it.”
The water clarity is also key, not just for the swimmers but also for cameras getting underwater primetime TV shots. Spear said the water chemistry has to be balanced perfectly along with the correct temperature of around 79.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Brian Spear is no stranger to U.S. Olympic Swim Trials. His Hoosier company led the charge for three straight Olympic trials in Omaha, Nebraska.
“Being in Indiana this time since we’re a local company, it’s just kind of a homecoming for us, too. We have always been in Omaha for the trials itself. And it’s cool to be involved with it there, but it’s a little extra special being here in Indianapolis.”
There’s a sense of pride for Citizens as well by helping set the nation’s biggest stage in swimming.
“Even our front line guys that were down here helping with the planning stages, they all think it’s pretty neat stuff, too,” said Dicken. “So we’re just gracious that we’re able to be part of it.”
And when the trials are over, citizens will be back in charge again. They’ll use hoses to drain the pool water, direct it into the storm drains and it will be back in Indiana’s wastewater.