Take the plunge to make pool savings
OUR scorching summer is providing potential for swimming pool owners across Australia to save billions of litres of water and millions of dollars through some simple strategies.
It’s estimated about 1.4 million households nationally have a pool or spa, according to the Swimming Pool & Spa Association of Australia (SPASA), and owners can save about 3000 litres per month at the height of summer.
“One in six homes in Australia have a pool or spa – we have the highest per capita ownership in the world,” said SPASA chief operating officer Spiros Dassakis.
Poolwerx founder and CEO John
O’brien said the top ways to save money included:
• Investing in a pool cover.
• Switching to energy-efficient equipment.
• Turning down the water temperature by a few degrees.
• Checking for leaks.
“Even the tiniest crack will be losing water 24-7, equalling hundreds of litres of water lost each day,” Mr O’brien said.
He said a swimming pool could account for up to 30 per cent of a household’s yearly energy use.
“Most people don’t realise the difference pool equipment can make,” Mr O’brien said.
“The technology has come a long way and new equipment is both energy efficient but also more effective for pools. As an example, switching to a variable-speed pump is an energyefficient choice and can save consumers up to $1200 per year in operating costs.
“We’ve seen a huge increase in the number of pool blankets purchased.”
Hannah Dawson, 23, said she was looking at a cover for her backyard pool “to help stop the evaporation and our water consumption”.
“I often think about how much it really costs to run our pool,” she said.
“Every time it rains, your second thought is the pool and what products you’re going to have to get now in order to keep the water healthy, clean and blue.”
Mr Dassakis said the most effective way of reducing evaporation was through a good pool cover.
“Just because it looks like a pool cover doesn’t mean it’s a quality pool cover,” he said.
“Get something that’s independently tested and verified.
“If you do, you can save 90 per cent of evaporation – that’s enormous.”
Mr Dassakis said evaporation was also caused by wind – “it takes out the top layer of water” – so strategic poolside planting could help reduce water loss.
Making use of available rainwater to top up your pool can also help reduce costs, perhaps through tanks or downpipe diverters.