In addition to reducing evaporation, there are a few other ways you can reduce water waste in your pool. Don’t worry: we’re not going to spoil your fun or tell you not to use your pool; most of these suggestions have to do with swimming pool maintenance.
Water Conservation with Leak Prevention
First, be cautious about any suspected leaks, especially in equipment lines. You can often tell if there’s a leak by noticing a spike in your monthly water bill; alternatively, you can find out within 24 hours if your pool is leaking water. Simply mark the water level on the tile and and monitor it over 24 hours: any decrease in water level in excess of ¼” may indicate a leak. Leaks commonly develop around return jets, main drains, pipe valves, and light fixtures.
Of course, realizing there’s a leak and addressing it are two different issues; be sure to hire a professional to evaluate and fix any leaks you suspect you have, sooner rather than later, to avoid unnecessary water waste — and potential damage to your pool’s equipment and structure. You may need to secure the help of a professional leak-detection company to pinpoint the issue as well as a contractor to repair it.
Water Conservation with Chemical Management
Maintaining proper chemical levels can also help avoid calcium damage to the plaster surface of your pool. The calcium in the plaster can be drawn out if pool water mineral levels are low, creating the need for power-sanding. Alternatively, high calcium levels can be caused by mineral deposits, creating dark spots referred to as “scale” and potentially requiring an acid wash or re-plastering. By carefully monitoring your pool water’s calcium hardness, pH, and alkaline levels, you can avoid these problems and the water waste associated with fixing them.
Water Conservation with Activity Restriction
Another way to eliminate unnecessary water loss includes making rules against extreme activities that cause excess amounts of splashing, forcing water outside the pool. Jumping in with canon balls or including pets in the swimming pool (think of all the extra water they soak up, as well!) can easily add up when it comes to water waste. Instead, kids may need some alternative ideas on how to have fun in the pool, so be ready to provide a few.
Water Conservation with Filter Cleaning and Replacement
Avoid unnecessary cleaning of your DE filter, due to the water waste associated with backwashing, which leads to a waste of up to 300 gallons of water. If your filter gauge registers pressure between 8 and 10 psi above normal, it will need to be cleaned; otherwise, you can avoid wasting water unnecessarily. Even when backwashing is required, you may be able to recycle the expelled water for use in watering plants, but only if you use ozone or UV light rather than typical amounts of chlorine. Another option to avoid waste related to cleaning your filter is to have a cartridge model installed. Instead of requiring backwashing, these filters require a maximum of 30 gallons of water to clean them.
Read More
• What Kind of Pool is Right for You?
• How to Find a Swimming Pool Contractor
Lyon Financial
Since 1979 Lyon Financial has made the backyard resort dream come true for over 400,000 families across the U.S. Through our solid relationships with more than 3,000 pool contractors and our continued commitment to putting our clients first, we have built a reputation as the first choice in providing pool financing solutions. For more information, visit lyonfinancial.net or call (877) 754-5966 today.
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