Posted by Nancy Sabatelli on Aug.12, 2010

©iStockphoto.com - bunnylady

We’re well into August, but summer’s not done yet! Depending on where you live, high temperatures and hot weather can still stick around for quite some time. For many people, taking in a dip in a swimming pool is a favorite way to beat the heat and cool down. But have you ever considered the environmental impact of swimming pools? Obviously, they require lots of water, as well as chemicals and energy to run the pumps and filters that keep them clean. The following tips can help you reduce water loss, minimize the use of potentially-harmful chemicals and lower the energy needed to maintain your pool.

Choose Eco-Friendly Materials to Build Your Pool

If you’re building a new pool, opt for recycled, re-purposed materials. Doing so will keep these materials from winding up in a landfill and can also slash your energy output. An eco-friendly option for a pool foundation is ICF (Insulating Concrete Foam), which is “made of concrete mixed with other materials,” such as “Styrofoam coffee cups, wood waste, shavings and chips,” to help minimize heat loss, explains the Web site, GreenYour.com (1). Old recycled glass can be formed into new pool tiles, creating mosaics or patterns on the pool floor or around the pool. Water-based, low-VOC paints are great choices, too (1).

Save on Pool Energy and Water Costs

Solar covers. A solar cover is a pool owner’s best friend: it reduces water loss and evaporation, retains heat and keeps your pool clean by preventing debris from falling into it. This means you don’t need to add extra water to your pool as often, run a separate heater to keep your pool water warm or run your pool pump or filter as much (2). You’ll also use fewer chemicals and cut the amount of time needed to clean your pool. Preventing water evaporation is especially key, because evaporation is responsible for 70% of a pool’s energy loss, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (2).

Solar covers are available in different sizes and materials, such as polyethylene, bubble material or vinyl. Leave the cover on during the day so it acts like a thermal blanket to trap the sun’s rays and keep your water warm. And keep it “on at night to trap the warmth in the pool and prevent it from escaping into the cool night air,” advises ThinkGreen.com (4).

Pumps and filters. You’ll save on energy costs by using the smallest effective pump and filter for your pool. If you have a small pool and are using a large pump or filter, you’re just wasting energy and money. Check your pool manufacturer’s specific guidelines for what size pump or filter you need, based on your pool size.

Also, many people run their pumps longer than needed. “Reduce your filtration time to six hours per day. If the water doesn’t appear clean, increase the time in half hour increments until it does,” advises the U.S. Department of Energy (3). According to GreenYour.com, “By just cutting the amount of time a pool filter is run from 12 hours to four hours per day, an average of $55 is saved per month” (5). And you don’t have to run your pump in a single six hour time block: rather, break it up into multiple shorter pump sessions, and run it during off-peak hours when possible (3, 4, 5, 8). Make sure the pool filter cartridges that go into the pump are clean: wash them and replace when necessary so they work at maximum efficiency (4). Use skimmers (poles with nets to capture debris like leaves, sticks, etc.) and pool vacuums to keep your pool water cleaner: this means your pump and filter won’t have to work as hard to clean your pool.

Consider Alternatives to Chlorine and Other Chemicals

Chlorine has long been used for keeping pool water clean, preventing the growth of bacteria, algae, germs and other harmful microbes. However, it must be used in very high concentrations, because otherwise it would be diluted and rendered ineffective by the pool water. As noted by the Environmental Protection Agency, “Some household cleaners contain two percent (2%) chlorine. Bleach has five percent (5%). Chemicals for use in swimming pools can contain from 12 to 95 percent (12% to 95%) chlorine” (7). At these very high concentrations, chlorine has been linked to many health problems, including respiratory/breathing problems, kidney problems, irritation to eyes or skin and potential birth defects (6, 7).

In recent years, no wonder chlorine alternatives have sprung onto the market. These include water purification tablets, ionic mineral devices, robotic devices, etc. They emit metallic ions or sound waves to break down the growth of algae and other microbes (6). Some of these devices are pricey and can cost hundreds of dollars, but you’ll save money from not having to buy chlorine and other chemicals.

Be Cautious in Public Pools

How clean are public pools? Do they harbor germs from all the people who swim in them, and can they make you sick? Rampant outbreaks of “stomach bugs and diarrhea are blamed on dirty public pools, according to the CDC. A quarter of these outbreaks are caused by bacteria, parasites and viruses that could have easily been prevented had the pools been properly chlorinated and monitored,” reports Remy Melina for LiveScience.com (10).

And a strong smell of chlorine doesn’t necessarily mean the pool is clean. In fact, that strong chlorine odor is really a mixture of chlorine, urine, sweat and bacteria, reports Mary Ostrowski, director of Chlorine Issues at the American Chemistry Council (10).

Take proper precautions. Make sure the pool water looks clean and you can clearly see the bottom. Shower before you enter the pool (to wash bacteria off your body and to prevent contaminating the water). Then, shower after you leave the pool to remove bacteria or viruses you may have picked up while swimming.

Sources:
1. Use Environmentally-Friendly Materials for Your Pool. (n.d.). GreenYour.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010 from http://www.greenyour.com/lifestyle/leisure-recreation/swimming-pool/tips/use-environmentally-friendly-materials-for-your-pool?subject=1701
2. Swimming Pool Covers. (March 24, 2009). U.S. Department of Energy. Retrieved July 15, 2010 from http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=13140

3. Installing and Operating a Swimming Pool Pump for Energy Efficiency. (February 24, 2009). U.S. Department of Energy. Retrieved July 16, 2010 from http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=13290

4. Environmentally Friendly Pool Maintenance. (n.d.). Think Green. Retrieved July 15, 2010 from http://timelyfeatures.com/demo/TF1007-ThinkGreen/think-green/article0024.html
5. Maintain Your Pool With Energy-Efficient Methods. (n.d.). GreenYour.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010 from http://www.greenyour.com/lifestyle/leisure-recreation/swimming-pool/tips/maintain-your-pool-with-energy-efficient-methods?subject=1701

6. Use Natural Alternatives to Pool Chemicals. (n.d.). GreenYour.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010 from http://www.greenyour.com/lifestyle/leisure-recreation/swimming-pool/tips/use-natural-alternatives-to-pool-chemicals?subject=1701
7. Swimming Pool Chemicals, Chlorine. (November 24, 2009). Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved July 15, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/kidshometour/products/cjug.htm
8. Swimming Pools and the Environment: Is Your Pool Eco-Friendly? (January 29, 2008). Practical Environmentalist. Retrieved July 15, 2010 from http://www.practicalenvironmentalist.com/for-the-home/swimming-pools-and-the-environment-is-your-pool-eco-friendly.htm

9. Solar Powered Pool Purifier Makes Swimming Nearly Chemical Free. (2010). Coolest-Gadgets.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010 from http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20070629/solar-powered-pool-purifier-makes-swimming-nearly-chemical-free/
10. Melina, Remy. Public Swimming Pools: How Dirty Are They? (July 1, 2010). LiveScience. Retrieved August 3, 2010 from http://www.livescience.com/health/public-pools-how-dirty-100701.html

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Posted under Eco-Friendly Ideas, Living, Water Quality.