AUBURN – The swimming pool is a popular summer destination, but Auburn resident Jenika Mullins says the city should not be gambling with its water resources in the midst of a drought and a city-declared water emergency.

She said the 1.5 million gallons remaining in the water reservoir for the cities of Auburn and Peru would only fill the pool four times and she is leery that five-years of abnormally dry weather could become more severe.

Mullins: “I’m not a fun hater. I love children. It is very important to me that children have fun and that kids learn to swim, but I also believe that we cannot live without water. For me it comes down to a needs basis.”

Mullins, 32, said she agrees with the city’s goals for solving its water challenges, including exploring sites for new wells. The city recently announced plans to truck in water to irrigate ballfields and will not operate a splash pad at the recreation center this summer.

 

 

Mullins said a stage 3 water emergency is not the time to use 250,000 gallons to fill a swimming pool.

Mullins: “I find that we should just wait for those rainfalls instead of jumping the gun. We can always fill up the pool, even in late summer. It would be a smart decision just to wait to fill up the pool.”

The swimming pool, which had 10,000 admissions last year, is expected to open on Friday, May 30.