Swimming Pool

[Jason Marcotte]

Just a quick question. Does anyone know how and how often the swimming pool had a change in water? There must have been drains located at the bottom of the tank, but where did they go? Was the water drained and then pumped out the side of the ship. Also how was the pool filled up again. From what I know the swimming bath was salt water, so water must have been acquired from outside the ship. Were there any filters or screens in place to filter the water -- I wouldn't think they'd like to see a couple of fishes swimming around in there (ouch - something is tickling my feet!).

Also, if the pool was drained and refilled on a regular basis, when did this occur. I would think at night time when no passengers were milling about. I'd think the pool was drained, cleaned and refilled a couple of times during the voyage, I know that I wouldn't want to be swimming in water over 1 week old near the end of the journey.

Also, does salt water need to be treated as conventional pools do -- i.e. being treated with chlorine? If so, was the Titanic's pool treated this way?

Hmmm, I had more than a few questions. Thanks again for any input.

Jason.

 

[Dave Hudson]

I have also heard that it was heated to "a refreshing temperature." How was that done?

Sorry to add more questions than answers (as usual

)

David

 

[Stephen Stanger]

Quite ingeniously was the pool heated I think. The pool itself was constructed right above boiler room #5 and it was primarily the heat emanating from the boilers that would heat the pool. I'm sure 78'F was a nice medium.
They would probably drain the pool slightly whilst pumping in new seawater every so often to prevent "uncomfortable temperature".

 

[Mark Chirnside]

---

Quote:

'...At the shallow end the depth of water is 4'5½" and 5'1½" at the deep end. The water is being constantly sprayed in at the fore end of the bath and discharged under the steps at the after end. Marble steps are fitted at each end of the bath.' (replaced with safer wood, late 1911.) - Source, Olympic August 1911.

---

​

---

---

Hope it helps.

 

[Dave Gittins]

Eileen Lenox-Cunningham, a young girl who made the channel crossing, recorded that the pool was empty during the passage. She was told that it was not filled until the ship was on the open ocean because the water inshore was too dirty. So what's new?

 

[Stephen Stanger]

Not half! If they filled that pool in Southampton, they'd get a lot more in there than just water. Also consider that Vectis not only shields Southampton from the Atlantic, it also means that the waste ejected from ships inport will take a long time to dissipate out to sea.
Probably be interesting what they would find if they took sediment samples from the north coast of the Isle of Wight, (har har).

 

[Jim Trebowski]

I was thinking of B, W, and P so here I am...Stephen....the more I think about it..wasn't it the pipes leading from the boiler rooms that heated up the water..possibly the running water thats described above?

 

[Stephen Stanger]

WELL YESSH B, W and P (intestines in or out?)

If ya want specificity absolutely. A combination of heat emanations from the boiler rooms themselves and directing vent steam pipes across and around the pool itself before connecting them to the forward funnel.
But that leads to the subject of insulation. The decking under the pool had to be doubly reinforced in light of the structure expanding and contracting with temperature changes. I think it would take a lot more than caulking to prevent that.
Suggestions anyone?