Your swimming pool as a reservoir
With the severe drought, more and more people are considering draining their pools. Gerhard says it’s a better idea to use your pool as a reservoir in the event that the municipal supply is suspended. However, take the following into consideration:
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
• Chlorine or salt water is not suitable for a reservoir; the water must be as natural as possible. This means that should the need arise, you’ll have to drain your pool. • To purify the pool water, an ultraviolet light is installed in the pipe leading to the filter (where the chlorinator is usually fitted); this treats the water without the side-effects caused by salt and chlorine. The water is suitable for more than just flushing toilets; you can even shower or bath in it, as well as do laundry with it. The backwash water can be used in the garden too. Just don’t drink it! • In an area with a high water table, fiberglass swimming pools are not suitable as reservoirs, because when the pool is drained, the higher water level in the surrounding soil may force the pool to pop out of the ground.
How it works
The water from your pool, or reservoir, first flows via a pipe to a pump housing located nearby. The only visible part is a green lid above the ground. Inside the pump housing there’s a pressure pump that switches on automatically when a toilet is flushed.
IMPORTANT If you want to use the water for more than just your toilets, a 10-micron filter and an additional UV light are recommended to kill any bacteria before the water enters your home.
The costs
The pump housing and pump costs start at R8 000 and the filter and UV light also start at R8 000. Installation costs are determined by your property.