Consider carefully whether you really need a swimming pool. Domestic swimming pools lose a lot of water every day due to evaporation.
Perhaps the time has come to only allow the filling of pools from roof storm water, or to ban them? Surely this is now a luxury that we cannot really afford, if we are serious about taking all available steps to combat climate change.
The average pool would only get used about 15 days in a year in any case.
Swimming pools need a lot of water
A family of four can normally get by with about 25,000 litres of water storage. Most domestic swimming pools contain significantly more water than this – up to 50,000 litres is not uncommon.
Carting water for pools is not sustainable
Water restrictions in Melbourne, Australia, now disallow filling pools from the mains water, so now people pay to have it trucked in from country Victoria.
The direct consequences of this are:
- Depletion of aquifers (underground water) where this water is pumped from
- Carbon emissions from pumping from the ground, truck transport, then pumping from the truck to the pool.
This practice is inappropriate for these reasons; it is simply not sustainable.
Alternatives
Go to the beach, a nearby river, or a community swimming pool.
Reclaim your pool
You can also convert your pool into:
- a water tank
- an ecological pond with rich biodiversity and lower maintenance
- a trampoline pit
- a cellar or a storage area.
Some companies such as Reverse Pools can assist you with one of these options.
