Drought, water shortages or reduced domestic expenses... Will pool owners have to save water from their pools? The government has unveiled the 53 measures of the "Water Plan", which will encourage individuals to reduce their water consumption. Water, a vital and precious commodity, must be consumed more than ever sparingly. To saveyour pool water this summer, here are some useful gestures.
Reduce pool evaporation
During episodes of high heat, the water in your pool evaporates. This is especially the case at the beginning of the night, when the outside temperature drops and becomes lower than that of the water. Evaporation is not to be taken lightly because it is the main cause of water loss. To prevent water from evaporating, here are some solutions:
- The bubble tarpaulin (or thermal tarpaulin) floats on the surface of the water and helps maintain its heat. It significantly reduces evaporation.
- The bar tarpaulin is a rigid canvas held by aluminum bars fixed around the basin. The tarpaulin can roll up and unwind. Its action against evaporation is effective, in addition to its usefulness in terms of safety.
- The roller shutter consists of hinged blades that cover the basin. This flap wraps and unfolds around a motorized axis, which can be above ground or submerged. The blades allow thermal insulation, or even heat the water, depending on their material.
During the night or during periods when it is not in use, the pool can be protected by these different solar covers. They also have the advantage of preserving the water from impurities, dead leaves that can fall into it.
Astuteness
Surround your pool with plants! Indeed, they create a natural barrier and reduce evaporation due to wind. If you do not have a green thumb, it is possible to install a low wall or gabion.
The roller shutter allows thermal insulation of the pool. Adobe Stock
See alsoDrought: will it be impossible to enjoy your pool this summer?
Maintenance: should you empty all the water in your pool?
This is a question that some owners ask themselves once the summer is over. No need to drain your entire pool, quite the contrary. Empty about a third of the pond each year (for wintering, or restarting in the spring), it will be fully sufficient. Simply monitor water quality regularly and, during annual renewal, properly dose chemicals to balance the water.
In addition, pool specialists claim that complete emptying can change the soil pressure and therefore cause cracks and deform the structure of the pool.
Read alsoHow to treat your pool without chemicals?
Recover water escaping from the pool
Why say goodbye to water that has been expelled out of the pool? To give water a second life, you can install a water recovery device. Thanks to an above-ground or buried tank, you will be able to store lost water and transport it when necessary to your pool via a pump.
Then, it is still necessary to limit these losses, which are due to splashes. Limit the number of "bombs" and other jumps that tend to make water gush on the edges of the basin.
Finally, make sure that the pool level is not too high. The higher it is, the greater the risk of water loss.
There are also tanks that collect rainwater to supply your pool. Be careful, rainwater requires treatment before being used: seek professional advice.
Good to know
Many devices are used to keep water in a circuit where it can be recycled: overflow, water level regulator, lost well, wastewater circuit...
Read alsoHow to build a natural pool?
Optimize filter washing
Good filtering is the key to consuming less. Adobe Stock
The filter should not be forgotten. Its water consumption is very important: a wash can use between 100 and 500 liters. This is why it is first advisable to properly maintain your pool by getting rid of dirt, every day, using a landing net. This will reduce your reliance on the filtering system. Also clean the skimmers and filter pump baskets regularly.
It is important to filter the water in your pool so you don't have to do it too often. The filtration cycle is most effective during the day, when it is hot. The filtering time depends on the temperature of the water. During the bathing season, it is better to run the filter pump for a long time - or even all day - because the water quality will be better and energy costs optimized. Therefore, filtering will be less frequent.
Good to know
You can place filter bags in the skimmers' baskets to collect waste before it clogs the filter.
To optimize filter washing, recycle the water it consumes. Thanks to a dechlorinator, for example, you can water the garden with your pool water without polluting.