They would relax on lounge chairs or around tables covered by large patio umbrellas. 

Spring water would constantly flow into the pool, then flow out into the agricultural land surrounding the campus, irrigating acres of citrus groves. 

Over the years, the pool's filtration system was modified to meet county health department standards. Finally, Chaffey Joint Union High School District officials were faced with the need to replace the entire filtration system. 

This summer the district spent $586,900 to replace the old piping system and its cast iron pipes with a state-of-the-art filtration system. 

The project also includes installing a surge head to help direct splash water back into the pool and two new 1-meter diving boards. 

The renovated pool will also sport replicas of the original decorative tiles that once adorned its sides. District officials found the company that made the original tiles and ordered reproductions of them for the sides of the pool. 

Work on the project began in early summer and is expected to be completed this month. 

The project fixes the problems while still preserving the historical and classical appearance of the pool, said John Grow, district director of facilities. 

"It's a unique pool," he said. "It's quite a resource." 

The Olympic-size pool was built in 1937 using both State Emergency Relief Act and Work Projects Administration funds. 

To recreate the pool, it would cost $2 to $3 million today, Grow said. Just to build a new a new pool would cost about $1.5 million. 

The 61-year-old pool looks like it was built to last, Grow said. When engineers inspected the pool at the start of the project they found no cracks of any kind, said District Superintendent Bette Harrison. 

"This is a superior pool," she said. 

For years, young children learned how to swim at the Plunge because it was the only pool in the area, Harrison said. She would like a return to those days. 

She would also like to offer the pool for use by the city's recreation department programs next summer. And she's interested in having senior citizen groups use the facility for water aerobics classes. 

With or without community use, the restored pool will see increased action. The high school has just hired a new swim coach. And water polo is making a return to Chaffey High after a 16-year absence, said Chaffey High Principal Jim Brodie. 

Like Harrison, Brodie is excited about the pool renovations. 
"It shows the commitment of the higher-ups at the Chaffey Joint Union High School District to maintain Chaffey High School as a beautiful facility," Brodie said.