MICHAEL KELLY The Marietta Times A swimmer tries to navigate the new floating obstacle course at the Marietta Aquatic Center Thursday afternoon. Although cool, wet weather dominated the first week of opening, more than 100 people came out to enjoy a swim.

Public swimming is underway in Washington County, although wet and cool weather kept the number of swimmers low during the first week. All public pools in the county except the New Matamoras village pool opened on Memorial Day weekend.

Inspections, conducted the week before openings, showed no critical violations for any of the facilities. The Marietta Aquatic Center showed one non-critical violation, with the water being slightly alkaline, a condition easily corrected by the addition of acid to balance the water chemistry.

Mike Bishman, owner of Professional Pool Management, oversees management of the Beverly-Waterford, Belpre and Marietta public pools. along with several in Wood County, W.Va. He said the swimming season got off to a slow start, with several days of rain and cool weather following Memorial Day.

“We’re seeing average traffic compared to last year, but it’s hard to judge with the weather,” he said Thursday morning.

Although he’s fully staffed for all the operations, Bishman said lifeguards are becoming increasingly difficult to find. A class being held this weekend in Marietta might provide a few new hires, he said.

MICHAEL KELLY The Marietta Times A swimmer tries to navigate the new floating obstacle course at the Marietta Aquatic Center while others watch Thursday afternoon. Although cool, wet weather dominated the first week of opening, more than 100 people came out to enjoy a swim.

“Lifeguards, it’s been a little short this year, and it’s been like that for the past five to seven years,” he said. “In fact, there’s been a nationwide shortage of lifeguards for the past several years, and we’re in the same boat here. I have enough, but it’s not as comfortable as I’d like it to be.”

The only change in the Washington County pools he manages has been at the Marietta Aquatic Center, which has added a lap lane, he said.

Bishman said he doesn’t expect any effect on the numbers of swimmers from the closure of the YMCA pool.

“Outdoor versus indoor pools, those are two different target markets,” said Bishman, who worked for a time as the aquatics manager for the YMCA. “Indoor swimmers are looking for places to practice for competitions, aquatic exercise classes, and we can’t really offer that.”

He said he hopes the weather improves soon.

“We’re hoping it does a 180, gets hot and clear,” he said. “People want to go someplace to cool down and get a tan, we’ve got that.”

On Thursday afternoon the weather was warm and muggy, and more than 100 people were enjoying the water and lounging around at the Marietta Aquatic Center, many trying out – and most failing – the new floating obstacle course.

Kelsey Parmitter was part of a group that included nieces and nephews. A Marietta resident, it was her first time there.

“It’s a good pool,” she said. “Oh, yeah, I’ll be back.”

Keneta Waters brought five grandchildren to the pool. A Belpre resident, she picked up several of the kids from their homes in West Virginia. She said it was her first time to the pool this year, but she’s visited in previous years.

“It’s an awesome thing, much better than it used to be,” she said.

On the eastern side of the county, there’s some question whether the New Matamoras village pool will open at all this year. The pool requires several thousand dollars of repair work, and residents have been on a fundraising campaign.

A GoFundMe campaign as of Thursday afternoon had raised $770 against a goal of $2,000 with donations from 23 people. Supporters are holding a community yard sale Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. They request that donated items be dropped off at the pool Saturday between 7 and 8 a.m.

A Facebook post by Sarah Sue-Anna Schmidt said vendors can purchase table space for $10 and keep all their proceeds. All money raised by the organization will go toward pool repairs.

“As many of you know, the pool is still not open due to parts needing to be replacing,” the post reads. “This yard sale is important … so that we have money to continue assisting with all the costs it takes to get the pool open and keep it running ..”

The yard sale will be held in several locations in the village, including the pool pavilion, 179 Grandview Hill Road, 713 Front St. and 908 Grandview Ave.

Washington County Public Pools

• Beverly-Waterford: Daily noon to 5 p.m.

• Lowell: Daily noon to 6 p.m.

• Devola: Daily noon to 7 p.m.

• Marietta Aquatic Center: Daily noon to 6 p.m.

• Belpre: Daily noon to 6 p.m.

Source: Times research.