Austin Closes Barton Springs Pool Due To Cloudy Water

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Parks officials abruptly closed the Barton Springs Pool on Wednesday after a "unusual" level of turbidity was detected in the water.

In a press release, Austin Parks and Recreation Department officials said the cause of the turbidity — a term referring to the cloudiness of the water due to the amount of sediment or pollutants — is unknown, and currently under investigation. The pool would have normally been closed for cleaning, but reopening is contingent on a reevaluation by parks officials, according to the news advisory.

The origin of the sediment is reportedly from the groundwater within the Barton Springs Aquifer rather than from upstream creeks, according to reports. One theory being floated is that the excess turbidity could be the result of a series of heavy rainstorms this month, but that has not been confirmed.

It's also unclear if the high turbidity is related to lingering effects of Austin-area historic flooding that took place in October. Resulting unprecedented levels of turbidity during those rain events prompted the city to issue its first boil-water notice in municipal history.

While the city's drinking supply never developed bacteria as a result, the potential threat was cited as a possibility in convincing residents to cut down their water usage to allow for maintenance of water plants deluged with higher-than-normal water levels that frustrated water filtration efforts. The boil water notice lasted more than a week, forcing residents to secure bottled water for their drinking and cooking needs.

Parks & Rec officials provided no further details.

Located at Zilker Park, 2131 William Barton Dr., Barton Springs Pool is an outdoor swimming pool with a maximum depth of 18 feet is filled entirely with water from nearby natural springs. The pool exists within the channel of Barton Creek and utilizes water from Main Barton Spring, the fourth largest spring in Texas. Popular year-round, the pool is usually open to the public from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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>>> Photo of Barton Springs Pool via Austin Parks and Recreation Department