Hotels may be forced to close their pools this summer. May 21 is the deadline to comply with new regulations that require all public pools to be handicap accessible.
But the equipment they need isn't available.
Many hotels and public pools ordered wheelchair lifts around January.
But the demand is much higher than the supply.
That's the problem at this Quality Inn in Christiansburg.
The General Manager ordered the wheelchair lift the first of the year but it's now on back order.
He's not sure when it will arrive. The lift and installation will cost the Quality Inn about $6,000.
Like many hotels across the country, David Smith hopes the federal government grants an extension otherwise the pool will be closed.
"If there's not an extension and we don't have the lift then technically we're not legal to open the pool which is gonna impact all the rests of our guests who are looking forward to using the pool," says Smith.
The deadline for compliance was March 15 but it was extended until May 21. The Department of Justice has proposed another extension to September.
A DOJ spokesperson said on Tuesday that no decision has been made on that request.
But hotels it's made soon because many open their outdoor pools Memorial Day weekend.
