Though Ayo Pool has been closed since the beginning of the fall 2010 semester, it is still being maintained.

Mike Matherne, director of campus recreation, said that it is because of a Louisiana law that states a certain water level must be kept and treated for sanitary reasons and to prevent further damage.

Matherne said the pool cannot be emptied because the weight of the water is what keeps the pool in the ground in an area below sea level.

The cost of the chemicals the water is treated with is about $24,000 per year. The labor to keep the pool up to standard is done by student employees and Matherne himself.

“We do all the work in house,” Matherne said.

The pool was closed last semester because the liner is ripped, creating a safety hazard.

Replacing the liner and making electrical repairs will cost between $140,000 and $150,000, Mike Davis, assistant vice president for facilities, said.

Matherne said the recreation department wants the pool open to students as soon as possible, so they are looking for the best price to replace the liner.

Davis said that the funding is currently not available, and when it does become available, the funds will go towards the most pressing needs first, which may or may not be Ayo Pool.