By Susan Sandys  March 9 2010

Methven Community Pool will close early for the season due to leaks.

Water to the pool was shut off on Friday, and the pool will now be left to naturally drain.

Committee chair Marama Mullany said once the water level becomes too low the pool will close. She did not know how long this would take, but said yesterday it may be another two or three days. It was unlikely the pool would be open this weekend.

Generally the pool shut late March anyway, so it would be closing only about 12 days earlier than usual.

Closing it early had a positive spin-off in that work could begin quickly on locating and repairing leaks.

"It's only seven months until the season starts again," she said.

She was confident whatever required fixing would be fixed, and the pool would be open again next year.

"I definitely think it will be up and running next season," Ms Mullany said.

In the meantime swimmers could access another pool in town, one commercially operated by Methven Resort.

Meanwhile, who will pay an outstanding Ashburton District Council bill for $19,400 of water which has leaked away from the pool has yet to be decided.

The bill was first sent to Methven Primary School, before leaks were isolated to the pool. While the pool is one third owned by Methven Primary School and two thirds owned by Mount Hutt College, it is leased to the pool management committee.

Council finance manager Paul Brake said he understood the issue would be discussed at a council services and operations meeting on Thursday.