ANOTHER day, another burst pipe. Swimmers remained stranded at the South African championships in Port Elizabeth for a second straight day yesterday - this time after a municipal pipe across the road burst.
Some of the participants, including veteran star Roland Schoeman, had complained they had picked up ear infections and diarrhoea.
One swimming official confirmed there had been illnesses among the competitors, but he added that he could not confirm that the cause was the murky green water that has dogged the Newton Park pool since Sunday.
The programme for the six-day gala, which also serves as trials for the world championships later this year, will be changed to timed finals so the competition can still finish on Saturday.
Racing is likely to resume at 5pm today.
Staff and event organisers said the pool water, which had gone green after a pipe in the pump room burst on Sunday, was crystal clear by 3am yesterday when the feeder pipe across the road burst.
That meant the pool's filtration system could not draw fresh water to operate, and the water became discoloured again.
There was also a high level of chlorine, which made it impossible for asthmatic swimmers to even consider competing.
Another burst pipe at SA champs
ANOTHER day, another burst pipe. Swimmers remained stranded at the South African championships in Port Elizabeth for a second straight day yesterday - this time after a municipal pipe across the road burst.
Some of the participants, including veteran star Roland Schoeman, had complained they had picked up ear infections and diarrhoea.
One swimming official confirmed there had been illnesses among the competitors, but he added that he could not confirm that the cause was the murky green water that has dogged the Newton Park pool since Sunday.
The programme for the six-day gala, which also serves as trials for the world championships later this year, will be changed to timed finals so the competition can still finish on Saturday.
Racing is likely to resume at 5pm today.
Staff and event organisers said the pool water, which had gone green after a pipe in the pump room burst on Sunday, was crystal clear by 3am yesterday when the feeder pipe across the road burst.
That meant the pool's filtration system could not draw fresh water to operate, and the water became discoloured again.
There was also a high level of chlorine, which made it impossible for asthmatic swimmers to even consider competing.
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