There’s no denying that swimming pools can use a lot of water, but they don’t have to. There are some simple measures you can take to make your pool more water conscious. The best part? You can save yourself some money while you’re at it. Here’s a helpful guide that we have put together about saving water when you have a swimming pool.
Why do swimming pools lose water?
Apart from the obvious reasons such as people getting in and out, jumping in the water, splashing etc, pools lose most of their water through evaporation. Many factors can contribute to the rate that your water evaporates but, some of the main culprits are wind, humidity, the sun, and heat. Your pool is exposed to these continuously, some months more than others. While you can’t do anything about the weather, you can minimise the effects that it has on your pool water, some ways you can do this include:
Get a good quality cover for your pool
The most effective, yet often underutilised pool accessory you can buy to prevent water loss is a good quality pool cover. A cover provides a protective barrier that prevents wind and humidity from hitting the water. Rather than the water evaporating into the air, it’s retained underneath the cover. A pool cover can reduce evaporation by 95%, and their benefits don’t end there. They can help to keep your pool cleaner by stopping leaves and rainwater from falling into the water, and they can effectively reduce your pools running and chemical expenses. So do i really need a pool cover?
Not all pool covers are equal
When looking for a cover for your pool, you should ensure it has the Smart Watermark Approved label. Why? Because they have been independently tested by a scientific lab and a panel of pool professionals. They are guaranteed to reduce evaporation by 80% or more.
Did you know?
Some states and territories require you have a Smart Watermark Approved cover when installing a new pool. You should check your local Government website to see the requirements around pool covers for your local area.
Use a liquid solar cover
What is a liquid solar cover, we hear you ask? Many pool owners are unaware that such a product even exists. It can be used in place of a physical cover. It is essentially a liquid, tablet or dispenser that is added to the pool, and it creates a microscopic film that covers the top of the water. It doesn’t work as well as a cover, but it’s better than using nothing at all. This produces a barrier between the pool and the elements. Liquid solar covers are super simple to use and are biodegradable. They have no ill effects on the safety of swimming in the pool and they don’t disrupt your pool chemical balance whatsoever.
Switch off water features and water slides when not in use
Additional pool add-ons such as water features and water slides are always a hit, but they can increase the rate that water is evaporated in your pool. When you have these running, the water that’s falling into the pool evaporates faster as it’s exposed to more air, humidity, and heat. You should enjoy these features, by all means, but to conserve water, you should turn them off when you are not using them, as tempting as it is to sit back and enjoy the sound of cascading water.
Turn your heating off when it's not needed
The warmer your pool water is, the faster it will evaporate. Warm water will vaporise faster than cold water so, if you have heating, only use it when you want to use the pool or lower the temperature if you can. If you don’t have pool heating but you want to reduce the temperature of your pool, you can do this by lowering the pools thermostat. So do you know the amazing benefits of pool heating? Find out now!
Put in a windbreak
As we’ve pointed out, wind increases the rate of evaporation and, by limiting how much of it hits the water, you can reduce water loss quite significantly. Many things can be used as a windbreak. Here are some ideas to give you some inspiration:
Glass pool fencing
Unlike a lot of other pool fencing types, glass has minimal gaps to let air into the pool area. It creates a barrier directly around the pool and can effectively minimise water loss.
Landscaping
If glass fencing is out of your budget, an economical way to limit wind is by planting some hedging or similar around your pool area. This also looks great, so it’s win, win.
Install screening
You can purchase premade screening at your local hardware store, and it’s not only a great way to stop wind in its tracks, but they can create a stunning point of interest in your pool area.
Add a source of shade
The more sun you block from your pool, the cooler it will stay and the more water it will retain. If you haven’t already, consider installing a source of shade. This can be anything from a pergola to an umbrella or shade sail. Shade also helps your chlorine to work to its full ability, and it can help swimmers to avoid sunburn.
Choose a smaller pool or an indoor installation
If you haven’t already got a swimming pool and you’re serious about saving water, consider a smaller pool or an indoor installation. A smaller pool has less surface area, and therefore the rate the water evaporates is minimised, and an indoor pool prevents wind and heat from getting to your water.
Start small if you have to
If every pool owner made minor adjustments to reduce their pools water consumption, it could have a significant impact on water conservation. It’s not only better for the environment, but it can save you from having to continuously top up your pool, and it can ensure you have smaller water bills. We hope this post has given you some ideas on how you can make your swimming pool more water-friendly. If you have any questions about this topic or you’d like more information on installing a new pool, reach out to our friendly team here at The Fibreglass Pool Company, we specialise in modern-day fibreglass pools, and we’d love to hear from you.
