Belmont's Underwood Pool closed after equipment failure

By Evan Allen, Town Correspondent

The Underwood Pool in Belmont has been closed until town officials can repair an equipment failure that has left them unable to filter the pool.

On Monday, the recreation department posted a notice to its website saying that the pool will be closed until further notice.

A valve that controls water flow broke, according to Ernie Dagnelli, Summer Coordinator for the Recreation Department. Because it is an old system, he said, finding a replacement has been difficult.

The pool normally closes for the season on Sept. 2. If town officials can’t locate a new valve in time, he said, there is a chance that the season may already be over.

“People are disappointed,” he said. “It’s a nice day like today, they want to go swimming.”

The Underwood Pool, which turned 100 this year, has had a rocky season. On its opening day June 20, the Health Department declared the diving board unsafe, and ordered it closed, much to the chagrin of many in the community.

In a meeting days later, Department of Health and Department of Public Works officials expressed concerns that the pool was in sorry shape, and could at any moment experience a catastrophic equipment failure that would close it for the season.

Recreation department officials are working with the High School to try to expand hours at Belmont’s indoor Higgenbottom Pool, he said, a schedule for which can be found here. They have not yet worked out extra hours.

Evan Allen can be reached at evan.allen@globe.com