Saving water around the pool and garden

Summer is the time when swimming pools are used the most, and there are many ways to minimise water loss.

Minimise splashing

Water is lost when diving or jumping into swimming pools. And although this is part of swimming pool fun, to save water, encourage slower and more controlled movements in the pool. Keep the water level at least 10cm below the rim so that splashing would not be too much of an issue.

Check your pool for leaks

Most often, you can use the pool leaks by the level reducing too quickly, but just to be sure, do this:

• Switch off any pool filters and water features. Add a bucket to the pool step and fill it to the same level as the pool water. Mark the level on the bucket. Let it sit for a few days and check to see if the pool level reduces more than the water in the bucket, which would indicate the leak.
• You can check for a pool leak with a visual inspection or use a few drops of dye near a suspected leak. If the dye is sucked into a gap, you have the leak area, and it becomes easier to fix.
• Don’t forget to check the filter, pipes and conduit to see if they are the culprits.

Use a pool cover

Nearly 90% of water lost due to evaporation can be controlled by using a pool cover. There are also some products on the market called ‘liquid blankets’ that form a thin layer over the pool’s surface, effectively reducing evaporation. These products are made from safe chemical polymers that repel each other strongly when in contact with water, and can save up to 50% of water.

If your pool is heated, reducing the temperature in summer will also reduce evaporation.

Recycle and reuse water

A simple way to fill a pool is to use a flexible pipe inserted into a gutter downpipe and into the pool, allowing water to flow directly into the pool when it rains.