Are the pools indoor or an outdoor?
Both pools are Outdoor.

How big are the pools?  Is the water heated?
Emery G. Weed III Lap Pool is 25 yards x 25 meters.
We currently run the lanes lines in the yards direction only. There are 8 competition lanes and a shallow section that is a little more than one lane wide. The Lap Pool is heated to 79F.

The Activity Pool is 25 yards.
The Activity Pool has three 25 yard lap lanes as well as several shallow sections, a fountain, and a water slide. You must be 48 inches tall to ride the water slide. The Activity Pool is heated to 84F.

How many laps are in a mile?
There are 1760 yards in a mile. Swimming a mile is 70.4 lengths of the pool, or about 71 lengths.

Do I need to be a member?
No, we are a public pool operated by the City of El Cerrito. All our programs are available to the public on a fee basis.

What types of chemicals are in the water?
In order to keep the water sanitary and safe, plus adhere to health regulations, we use sodium hypochlorite (liquid chlorine), plus hydrochloric acid, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), carbon dioxide and calcium chloride. At times additional chemicals may be used in order to insure the proper chemical balance in the water. If you have questions about possible allergic reactions to any of these chemicals, please contact your healthcare professional.

Are my belongings safe at the Swim Center?
There are many different people and groups that use the Swim Center on a regular basis. You should never bring anything of value to the Swim Center and what you do bring is only safe in a properly secured locker. The City of El Cerrito is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

How old do you have to be to participate in Fitness Swim such as lap swim, water aerobics or independent exercise?
Participants must be 14 years or older. Fitness times are designated as adult times.

Why do non-residents pay more than residents?
Residents or their landlords pay property taxes that help the City of El Cerrito to subsidize our programs and operations. Therefore, non-residents pay a 25% surcharge for our classes and passes.

Who is considered a "resident"?
Residents live within the City limits of El Cerrito with a postal zip code of 94530.

Why don’t you allow flotation devices?
As with most public pool, we believe that children are most safe in the water under the close supervision of their parent of their responsible adult. Flotation devices lead to poor body position and overconfidence in an environment where caution should always be expected.