FAQs • Farmington, NM • CivicEngage

Why do you require swimming suits?: There are a couple of reasons. First, it’s a hygiene matter. Typically, people tend to only wear a swimming suit while at the pool, not for other activities. Gym shorts or bathing suits with underwear worn underneath is more likely to be unsanitary or soiled and potentially introduce bacteria and germs we try to keep out of the pool/ While chlorine is used to disinfect the water, the extreme amounts required to kill germs such as cryptosporidium, shigella or giardia, would be an unsafe amount of chlorine for swimmers.
The second reason is a safety concern. To avoid becoming heavy when wet, bathing suits are lightweight and do not absorb very much water, making it easier for a person to swim. Generally, a swimming suit is tight fitting and will not impair vision or breathing unlike t-shirts or cover ups. Additionally if a lifeguard attempts a rescue, clothing other than a bathing suit can hamper the rescue and endanger the individual and lifeguard.

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Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Affairs - Aquatics

1. How do I register for swimming lessons?: To register for swimming lessons there are several ways that it can be done. Registration opens at 8 am the Friday before the lessons begin. You can go into the Farmington Aquatic Center and register with one of our skilled workers that can help you to figure out which lesson would fit your child best. You can also register online at www.fmtn.org/aquatics, select the register under Quick Links to the right, from Friday at 8 am through Sunday at 5 pm.

2. How many people are available to help with lessons?: All of our instructors are Red Cross Water Safety Instructor certified and the ratio is 1 instructor to 5 swimmers for the preschool classes and 1 instructor to a minimum of 8 swimmers for the levels classes.

3. Why must I be in the water with my child if they are 5 years and younger?: With the depth of the majority of our pools being deeper than a child can reach it is important to have an adult in the water with them to ensure that they are safe. We require that children be an arms length away so that if they fall over in the water or explore to areas that are too deep they have someone with them that can help them. Floaties do not count as an adult in the water, instead they can help a child to feel more comfortable in the water while having an adult assist them when needed.

4. What happens when there is lightning in the area?: If there is lightning and thunder in the near area we do have to close the pool for thirty (30) minutes per lightning strike. We only close when the lightning and thunder is in a six mile vicinity. We don’t give refunds due to lightning. The City of Farmington has a no refund policy that pertains to any of their facilities. If you just arrived we can give out a pass to come back to the facility.

5. Why do you require swimming suits?: There are a couple of reasons. First, it’s a hygiene matter. Typically, people tend to only wear a swimming suit while at the pool, not for other activities. Gym shorts or bathing suits with underwear worn underneath is more likely to be unsanitary or soiled and potentially introduce bacteria and germs we try to keep out of the pool/ While chlorine is used to disinfect the water, the extreme amounts required to kill germs such as cryptosporidium, shigella or giardia, would be an unsafe amount of chlorine for swimmers.
The second reason is a safety concern. To avoid becoming heavy when wet, bathing suits are lightweight and do not absorb very much water, making it easier for a person to swim. Generally, a swimming suit is tight fitting and will not impair vision or breathing unlike t-shirts or cover ups. Additionally if a lifeguard attempts a rescue, clothing other than a bathing suit can hamper the rescue and endanger the individual and lifeguard.