How do you achieve a sustainable pool and what are the benefits?

08.08.2023

Fresh, clean, sustainable pools

During Australia’s hot summers, people long for refreshing, crisp waters.
As global temperatures continue to soar, Aussies are increasingly looking towards sustainable pools that not only keep them cool
but strive to keep the planet cool too.

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The installation and running costs of a swimming pool can be notoriously expensive. Incorporating sustainable features into your pool is an excellent way to keep your pool maintenance costs to a minimum while providing you with peace of mind that your new pool is environmentally responsible too.

With a range of innovative technology and remarkable advances in pool design, sustainable pools have never been so appealing or attainable. Whether you’re seeking to install a brand new pool or update an existing pool, there are several accessible solutions with an abundance of possibilities to reduce your environmental footprint.

As climate change continues to threaten our modern way of life and we’re feeling its devastating effects more frequently worldwide, more people are conscious of adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle to mitigate their environmental impact. The building or converting of a pool with sustainability at the forefront of your mind means that you’re reducing the effects on our environment and keeping your energy and maintenance bills low.

Water preservation

Australia is prone to droughts and water restrictions are a regular occurrence; ensuring this vital resource is conserved has become crucial in recent years. Retaining the water level in your pool as best you can is essential for environmental factors and benefits your maintenance costs. Evaporation from the water’s surface is the leading cause for most water loss in pools. To minimise water evaporation, consider factors such as surface area, wind levels, air temperature, and humidity.

While some of these factors, such as surface area, can be difficult to change in an existing pool, when planning a new pool build, contemplating your pool’s size is an important element to consider to mitigate water loss. Some ways to reduce water evaporation are:

Smaller pools

Build a smaller swimming pool; maintaining and operating a smaller body of water is an easy way to reduce evaporation in your sustainable swimming pool.

Reduce air temperature and air humidity

Reduce hard surfaces like concrete, paving or tiled areas and add garden beds.

Reduce wind

Protect your pool from wind by installing shade sails, covered pergolas, cabana structures or other.

Lower pool temperature

Only heat your pool when you’re likely to use it.

Recycle water

Water moving through water features, spillways or weir walls into balance tanks can be recycled. Using a Naked Pools Freshwater Pool System, you can recycle this water and put it to other uses – either directly to the garden or into holding tanks and used as greywater.

Install a pool cover

Provide the body of water with protection from the sun to effectively minimise evaporation. Pool covers are a cost effective and practical solution to ensure you retain your swimming pool’s water.

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Innovative technology for sustainable pools

The use of harsh chemicals in swimming pools can be detrimental to your health and the surrounding ecosystem. Striving to reduce the use of harmful compounds is beneficial to all who intend to use the pool. Naked Pools prides itself on creating freshwater, sustainable pools that don’t rely on chlorine, high salt levels, or expensive minerals to maintain its cleanliness. The benefits of a low chemical pool on not only the environment but also your health are extensive.

Freshwater pools rely on ionisation to sanitise the water – a technology that has been around for hundreds of years and even utilised by NASA for drinking water in space. The NKD-R freshwater system uses copper and silver as the residual sanitiser in the pool water instead of chlorine, which reduces other chemical consumption by up to 50 percent. To be approved by the APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority) as an effective sanitiser, ionisation still requires an oxidiser to break down organic matter, body fats, oils and other contaminants such as sunscreen. However, the oxidisation, which utilises the chlorine, is a secondary process and not held in the swimming pool, reducing the need for large amounts of chemicals.

Choose a freshwater pool for your health

Freshwater pools are becoming more and more popular as reducing the number of chemicals in your pool has numerous health benefits. In Australia, one in four people suffers from skin or breathing conditions such as eczema or asthma. Chlorinated pools make these symptoms worse and even dangerous at times. A freshwater pool is a much healthier solution that won’t irritate skin or cause breathing difficulties. It also contributes to a more pleasant overall swimming experience. When you come out of the pool, you feel rejuvenated and refreshed, rather than having that chlorine feel and smell on your skin and bathers. There’s even no need to shower or wash swimwear after swimming!

In addition to the health benefits available to you and your loved ones, utilising a freshwater swimming pool system is also healthier for the surrounding ecosystem. Less chemicals and chlorine mean you can repurpose that water in the garden or in the home. It’s not corrosive like high salt or mineral pools, which means your pool equipment and surroundings will continue to perform at optimum. It’s possible to recycle this precious resource and utilise it for other purposes around the home and garden.

For those with chlorine or salt pools, converting to a freshwater system is a simple process. There are better alternatives to traditional high salt and chlorine to sanitise pool water, and transforming your pool to freshwater with a Naked Pools Freshwater System is easy.

A freshwater pool has reduced running costs by up to 50 per cent with the minimal use of chemicals and maintenance required. With your Freshwater Pool System maintaining the water balance just like nature does with water such as in rivers and streams, there’s no more maintenance required than a regular pool. There are fewer costs involved and you can then spend more time with your nearest and dearest enjoying all the great Australian outdoors has to offer.

naked pools

Maintaining a clean pool

Regardless of what pool you choose to install, properly maintaining it is essential to keep monetary and environmental costs low. Utilising smart systems will continuously measure the aquatic conditions and adjust the chemicals and pump speed accordingly. This reduces the need for excessive amounts of harsh chemicals and power usage. A Freshwater System balances water on the go and controls swimming pool temperatures, resulting in minimal environmental impact and a reduced maintenance bill for you.

Keeping your swimming pool well-maintained is crucial. Flowing freshwater water found in nature is the benchmark that sustainable pool builders aspire to reach and attempt to replicate within their work. One vital aspect is circulation; adequate circulation is crucial to maintaining and cleaning your pool.

Keep your pool clear of visible debris to minimise the need for cleaning equipment and chemicals. A robotic cleaner or in-floor cleaning is a great way to maintain your pool, keeping it free from organic matter as well as helping with water circulation. While it may seem excessive, having a continuous cleaner can reduce your energy consumption, reliance on harsh chemicals, and economic costs significantly in the long run – particularly when combined with alternative energy sources such as solar panels and sustainable technology.

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Other steps towards sustainability

While the Freshwater System utilises NASA’s science to reduce your environmental footprint and energy use, there are many other ways to keep your pool eco-friendly. As technology is evolving and more pioneering products become competitively priced, installing accessories to offset your energy expenditure and environmental footprint is becoming increasingly more accessible.

One way to add to your sustainable pool building project is to include solar power to power your pool equipment using the suns energy. Again, this will reduce your carbon footprint as well as minimise your power bills.

Other minor changes you can make to your existing framework include installing LED lighting and a multispeed pool pump. The pump can adapt the speed it’s running at, also altering its energy use. It will be less harmful to the environment than having a single speed pump that constantly runs at its maximum capability.

Overall, there are many benefits to incorporating sustainable energy features into your pool. Before embarking on your sustainable pool journey, always consult an industry professional to ensure you’re gaining the best advice and implementing the latest technology.

Contact us for more information