People love taking a plunge into their swimming pool during the long and hot summer months to cool down. A swimming pool is not just a point of pride for homeowners, but it is a great place to relax and unwind with the family. You can add charm to parties and gatherings by having a swimming pool and even keeping track of your fitness routine.
Unfortunately, a swimming pool uses a lot of water. This can be a bit worrying, especially now with recurrent droughts and everyone talking about climate change. This makes pool water conservation an important point to be considered. It is advisable to minimise the impact your swimming pool can have on the environment, so you can enjoy a guiltless swimming experience.
Tips for pool water conservation
You can conserve water in your swimming pool by using a few simple tricks. Some of them include:
Pool cover
This is the easiest way to conserve the swimming pool’s water. An uncovered swimming pool loses a lot of water to evaporation. During peak summer months, it will be more than 2 inches a week. This will increase further in areas with dry, hot climates. This is a huge amount of water loss, especially if you are living in a drought-prone area. Using pool covers is a great way to stop or slow down evaporation and save water. Environment-conscious people can opt for solar covers. Cover your swimming pool when it is not in use.
Using a pool cover has numerous other advantages, like retaining pool water heat, reducing chemical use, and keeping the pool clean of debris, leaves, algae, and other contaminants.
Maintain water level
Many people make the mistake of filling their swimming pools to the brim. This will also lead to a huge amount of slashing, making your pool deck wet and slippery, causing accidents. All these can be avoided, and water can be conserved by keeping the pool water at optimal levels. The ideal level is about halfway up the pool skimmer. This will save water while allowing the skimmer to regularly clean the pool water. Also, high levels of water can cause the skimmer door to malfunction.
Look for leaks
A swimming pool can lose a considerable amount of water in the event of leaks. The most common test to detect a leak is the bucket test. For a precise test, ensure that the pool pump is turned off. If the water level in the pool is lower than the water in the bucket, then your pool has a leak.
Other than the bucket test, there are some other signs that indicate the likelihood of a leak in your swimming pool.
If there are some loose pool tiles, then there are chances of a pool leak.
Cracks in your pool deck and the bond beam can also be an indication of a leak.
If you see moist areas near the pool, it may indicate a leak.
You should be mindful of degrading water quality even after regular water treatments.
If you have an above-ground pool filter, look for water pooling issues.
If your water bills are becoming exorbitantly high, chances are you have a leak in your pool.
Keep the pool temperature low
Hot water will evaporate faster than cool water. It is better to turn off your pool heater in the summer months as the sunlight will be sufficient to heat the pool water for a comfortable swim. This will aid you in reducing the evaporation rate of the pool water and conserving it. There are numerous other advantages to keeping the temperature low. The growth of algae is minimal in cold water. Make sure to run the pool pump during the night as the lower ambient temperature can be beneficial. Using solar panels is a great way to maximise the nightly cool-off. If you cannot lower the pool temperature using simple methods, try investing in a pool chiller or cooling pump.
Less frequent backwashes
Backwashing is typically done once a month to clean out the pool pipes and drain any stagnant water. In this method, the water flows in the opposite direction than it usually does, helping to flush up built-up debris. It also helps to wash those places that are not cleaned when the filter basket is emptied, keeping the pool clean. But frequent and other chemical treatments can cause huge amounts of water loss.
Cleaning the pool manually at least once a week is a good way to avoid the need for frequent backwashing. Use long-handled nets to clean fallen leaves, pollen clumps, tree branches, and other such debris. You should also frequently clean your skimmer basket and pool pump. Pool vacuums can also be used to clean the pool. If the pool is located near big trees, it is advisable to trim these trees to limit the number of leaves falling into the pool.
Use plant screens
Using dense plants or bushes is a good way to reduce evaporation that happens due to wind. These plants will also add charm to the pool area by acting as natural privacy walls.
Drain the pool only when necessary
It is better to not drain your pool water unless it is necessary. Also, if you are draining the pool to do some repair work, it is advisable to take the help of an experienced repair agency. Some repairs can be done without draining the whole pool. Skilled technicians will help you save a lot of water.
Follow proper pool maintenance
Having a proper pool cleaning and maintenance schedule will ensure the quality of the water and reduce wastage. If the pool water is regularly cleaned and the pH and chemical levels are optimal, there is no need to frequently drain the pool water.
Conclusion
A swimming pool is a really big investment for many homeowners that they take pride in. It not only enhances the home value but also improves the overall beauty of the house. But it is also important to maintain the pool economically. Conserving pool water is a great way to enjoy an economical and environmentally friendly swim in your backyard.
