Water conservation

Most pools hold a lot of water, but they don’t need to consume very much.

Water conservation is a priority in all parts of Australia. If you already have a pool or are thinking about buying one, there are many ways to help conserve water. The average domestic swimming pool holds 40,000 litres of water. Once filled, it should only need topping up occasionally.
Just reducing the amount you top up, and the number of times you do it can result in significant water savings. Water that is not filtered and balanced can become so contaminated it has to be drained away and replaced, especially as some owners completely shut down their pools over winter. That’s a waste. Poorly maintained pools may also require more frequent backwashing. So the best way to conserve water is to maintain the right chemical balance and ensure your filtration is adequate.

1. The right amount of filtration

You will likely need to run the filter (pump) for 8 to 10 hours a day on an average pool in summer or whenever anyone is using the pool. This will skim surface leaves and dust away and keep the water clear and clean. Circulating the pool water is critical especially in extreme weather or heavy use, also trying to eliminate any dead spots (no circulation) in the pool to avoid contamination or algae growth that then may lead to additional chemicals and backwashing. This process is wasteful if done too often or for too long. Only continue backwashing until the sight glass provided is clear.

2. Chemical balance

Maintaining the correct water balance will avoid the need to empty and refill your pool, but you don’t have to be a scientist to correctly balance your pool. Just follow these three basic rules. First, adjust the Total Alkalinity level. Second, adjust the pH. Third, ensure the required amount of sanitiser is being produced by your system to adequately treat the pool and its use at the time.

3. Water level

The water level should always remain about halfway up the skimmer box opening. Overfilling the pool reduces the effectiveness of the skimmer.

4. Pool covers

Pool owners often invest in a pool cover to keep heating costs down. But these covers also dramatically reduce evaporation and water loss and now compulsory in some states when building a new pool.

Pool covers are generally more expensive than blankets. They cover the whole pool, preventing up to 95% of evaporation, compared with a blanket where there may be gaps between the blanket and the edge of the pool.

Pool blankets are an affordable option, available in bubble plastic or foam, which float on the surface of the water.

Pool covers also block out UV and therefore you may need to adjust your sanitising levels (not filtration), to avoid over chlorinating a pool.

5. Increase shade

By covering the pool area with shade, you can further reduce evaporation, as well as protecting swimmers from sunburn. Increased shade in chlorinated pools may help reduce chemical costs too as they are affected by UV.

6. Wind exposure

Wind contributes to evaporation. To reduce water loss, adjust the landscape around your pool with walls and hedges that create shelter from the wind. Your pool fencing should be designed to assist with protecting wind from the pool.

Wind also carries contaminants into your pool. What does your car or windows look like after a windy and possibly rainy day? When your pool is exposed to the elements it may need extra care or cleaning, just like your car or home.

7.  Leaks

One drip per second can waste 7,000 litres of water in a year and a steady dribble would drain the entire volume of water in the pool. All pools – especially older pools – need to be checked regularly for damp spots. It’s important to keep notice if you believe you are topping up the pool too often when the weather is cool or the pool not being used.

If you have any other questions, please give us a call on 1800 625 331 or use our CONTACT US page.