Riverfront fountain reopens after repairs

Spokane’s popular Rotary Fountain in Riverfront Park has reopened after being shut down the past two days because of a chemical control problem. The fountain, a magnet for kids seeking relief from the summer heat, was turned off Sunday and remained off Monday, said Craig Butz, recreation and entertainment division manager with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. An electrician was called in to inspect a major failure in the chemical control system, he said. The system that monitors and maintains the pH level of the water was putting too much chlorine in the water, Butz said. The water normally is tested three times a day to ensure a proper chemical balance. Butz said the city’s two new pools and 10 new splash pads “are really taking the load off that fountain. That’s the positive aspect.”