The excessive heat this week has led to a boom in business at most municipal swimming pools. In Newton, Nick Hoskins is manager of the Maytag Pool.

He says attendance this week has run between 350 to 500 people a day. “We average about 150 people a day through the entire summer, so those are way above average numbers,” Hoskins said. Many Iowa cities have recorded seven consecutive days with a high temperature above 90 degrees.

The hot sun has made it difficult to keep the pool water cool. “We’ve got complaints about the water being too warm, actually,” Hoskins said. In order to cool the water, Hoskins says they have to periodically backwash the pool.

That involves taking water out, so cold water can be put back in.

By Randy Van, KCOB, Newton