Swimming Pool Industry Goes To Ground

The Swimming Pool and Spa Association (SPASA) in Victoria today said it was investigating the potential of ground water to protect the jobs of some ten thousand Victorians and ensure a supply of water for new pools and to top up existing swimming pools.

Annual

Water Use
in Melbourne
620.5 Billion Litres
Source Melbourne Water

Annual

Water Use New
Swimming Pools in Victoria

150 Million Litres

(based on 5000 pools at 30,000 litres)

0.03%

Can only be filled with conservation plan and water saving showerheads and dual flush toilets. Showers alone are estimated to save 20,000 litres per person, 40,000 for a two person home 10,000 more litres than the average pool.

Media Release

18 October 2006

Swimming Pool Industry Goes To Ground

On average 5000 swimming pools are built a year in Victoria and the industry contributes $750 million to the Victorian economy.

Ted Martin, President of SPASA said, "Bore water has been used in country and regional areas to fill new pools and top up existing pools for a number of years and we are confident that the comparatively small amount of water needed to ensure the economic stability of the industry in Victoria will be available from ground water sources."

To put the amount of water in perspective 150 million litres which will be needed to fill pools for the year will be just 0.03% of Melbourne's annual water use of 620.5 billion litres. (1.7 billion daily average x 365 days)

Mr Martin said that SPASA is investigating the utilisation of three bores which will be located at Frankston, the western and the northern suburbs of Melbourne to supply all water for new pools and topping up. The cost will add an estimated $800 to $1000 onto the average swimming pool.

Mr Martin said, "all pool owners should be installing a water tank for roof harvesting and topping up to ensure they can maintain the correct water level for the efficient operation of their filtration systems".

"Whilst pools could be still be filled at level two restrictions with a conservation plan, the industry for the past four years has been implementing water saving strategies and had moved to put the bore water strategy in place as a prudent and socially responsible strategy," Mr Martin said.

SPASA is also encouraging new technology such as the liquid pool cover, sand filters which can be converted to not wasting any water and cartridge filters which use three to four buckets of water a year to clean. The industry has also sponsored the Backyards for Learning program created by leading environmental education organisation the Gould Group.

SPASA - What's new in Water Conservation
Fast Facts about Pools and Water

The amount of water used to fill new pools is estimated at 150 megalitres annually which is 0.03% of Melbourne's total water use 620.5 billion litres. (1.7 billion daily average x 365 days)
The swimming pool industry employs 10,000 people and contributes an estimated $750 million annually to the Victorian economy through manufacturing, installation and servicing
The average backyard pool holds 32,000 litres of water.
Pools are highly efficient recyclers of water which is kept in a high quality standard.
SPASA initiated the strategy that is now Government policy and supported by the industry which means no new pool can be built and filled without a water conservation plan to ensure water efficient appliances are in place in the home such as dual flush toilets, flow restrictors, water efficient shower heads, to save as much water a year which is used in the pool.
At level three restrictions pools will not be able to be filled and the swimming pool industry is looking at utilising existing ground water from bores a practice used in country areas.

Trends New Equipment and Technology

Many new pool owners are installing water tanks for topping up
The simple down pipe diverter which allows rain water to be harvested from the roof is also being installed.
There is an increased use of cartridge filters which use little water to clean once a year.
New equipment is available to save water from backwashing which can be put straight back into the pool saving about a thousand litres per backwash.
The introduction of the liquid pool cover which automatically each night seals the pool surface to save evaporation and energy has added another choice of pool covers for pool owners who currently use thermal or solar blankets.

Education

SPASA in conjunction with the Gould Group has implemented the second stage of its water conservation programBackyards for Learning which is also being made available to the school network and the general community to promote the importance of water.