Dario Hrebak, Mayor of Bjelovar, has once again addressed residents' comments regarding the water temperature at Wellovar, the new Bjelovar thermal baths which recently opened to visitors. He asserts that no pool is below 30 °C, with the exception of the Olympic pool, where the temperature is 28 °C.
Hrebak explained that on the evening before the official opening, they had to drain half of the recreational pools because the facility was still new and the level of trihalomethanes had increased. These are compounds formed by the reaction of chlorine with dust, impurities and sunscreens. At that time, the water was much colder, specifically 26 °C, which was very cold for pensioners.
The Mayor stated that filling the pools with water from the hydrant network was partially used in the first days of operation to speed up the process, but the pools will soon be fully filled with geothermal water. The geothermal water used to heat the pools has passed all necessary checks, and this will be confirmed officially and formally.
Hrebak emphasised that geothermal water in the pools is treated with chlorine, as is the case in all serious pools across Croatia. He also explained that geothermal water at 86 °C is too hot for direct pool filling, and cooling it would be too expensive. Currently, geothermal water at 31 °C is used to heat the pools and the premises.
The biggest problem is that the pipeline is not yet finished, but it is being constructed throughout the zone and the thermal baths. With 31 °C water, they heat the space, have heat pumps, and use that water to heat the pools, the surroundings and the entire facility. Solar panels are additionally used to heat certain elements.
Wellovar is not conceived exclusively as a classic thermal spa, but as a sports and recreation centre intended for various user groups. Pools have been built to standards for children, adults and recreational users, and they are still planning to raise the temperature of one section of the pool to 32 °C.
Preparation of the outdoor pools should also begin soon. Due to favourable weather conditions, the test filling of the outdoor pools is planned for next week. The outdoor pools will not be for commercial purposes, but they want to test and try them out. Hrebak hopes that the opening will be in May.
