19/03/2024
Hello All,
This coming 2024 season is set to be the most challenging ever for pool-owners, due to the restrictions on filling and/or topping up.
Clearly, a pool functions best when the water is kept at the correct level: the level it was designed to operate at.
Add the coming calima, due next Thursday according to the Sur in English, into the mix and things are looking bad!
Evaporation.
A warm, breezy day can easily evaporate a centimetre of water, or on a really hot day nearer 3cm, and if the pool cannot be refilled problems will rapidly develop.
When the level is only 1 or 2 centimetres deep in the entrance to the skimmer air will be drawn in, causing the pump to ‘surge’, resulting in inefficient filtration and further problems.
When the water level drops below the skimmers they will no longer be able to clean the surface.
Holiday rentals without a functioning swimming pool are a lot less attractive to holidaymakers.
Look forward to lots of moans and requests for refunds!
Water is lost from a pool in 2 main ways: evaporation and backwashing.
A tiny amount is also lost to ‘splash-out’, but this really isn’t a big problem.
Previously it was an affordable option to buy a tanker of water but last week Sur in English carried an article on the cost of 12,000 litres.
It’s risen from 105 Euros +IVA to 285 Euros in a week!
A faint whiff of profiteering, maybe?
So, what can a pool owner do about it?
Evaporation can be greatly reduced by installing a pool cover.
A pool cover will also warm your pool about 6 weeks earlier than an uncovered pool and keep it warm for 6+ weeks longer in the autumn.
The added 12+ weeks of ‘swimmable’ temperatures, almost doubling the use you’ll get from your pool, makes the expense of a pool cover good economic sense.
However, we cannot overstate the importance of water conservation.
By following these simple steps, you can conserve water while continuing to enjoy a crystal clear and healthy swimming pool.
And with our water clarifier, Jolly Gel, you can achieve perfect pool clarity and reduce backwashing without wasting excessive water.
Order now and experience the difference.
When faced with restrictions on refilling a pool, there are several options you can consider:
Here are some tips on how you can save water while still maintaining a healthy pool.
Install a pool cover - using a pool cover can reduce evaporation and help maintain the water level in the pool for longer.
Reduce backwashing. Use a pool water clarifier - a water clarifier can help maintain the quality of the pool water, reducing the need for frequent refilling.
Jolly Gel is the best and most cost-effective pool clarifier available, working out at around 2 Euros a week, reducing backwashing to every 4-6 weeks and saving up to 40,000 litres of water a year.
It’s available from Amazon.es or from any of these 50+ retailers in Spain (there’s one near you!). See https://www.amazon.es/Jolly-Pool-Clarifier-Flat-Blocks/dp/B089PSLZMD
1 - Re-use pool water - consider using a pool water filtration system that recycles and cleans the existing pool water.
2 - Install a water tank to take water from backwashing, which can be left to settle before being pumped back into the pool. This will help reduce the need for frequent refilling.
The Sur in English article says that ‘pool owners are now opting for 10,000 to 15,000 litre storage tanks with their own motor to have the water filtered on site’ and warns that such facilities could ‘cost 9000 Euros’.
3 - Harvest rainwater - if possible, collect and use rainwater to refill your pool. This is a sustainable option that can help reduce the amount of water needed from other sources.
Rainwater from your roof can be stored in water butts. A sheet of polythene, laid out on a terrace and arranged to funnel everything direct into the pool, can collect huge quantities of rainwater.
TIP: Try to direct the rainwater directly into the skimmer with the pump on.
4 - Adopt water-saving measures - encourage pool users to conserve water by taking shorter showers before and after swimming, minimizing splashing, and avoiding unnecessary pool refills.
Here are some additional suggestions to overcome restrictions on refilling a pool:
5 - Monitor and adjust the water level: - regularly monitor the water level in your pool and adjust it as needed to control water loss.
6 - Repair leaks - inspect your pool regularly for any leaks and repair them promptly to minimize water loss.
We import Fix-a-Leak from Canada. It will cure most leaks in swimming pools and is much cheaper that digging the terrace up trying to find the leak.
Currently, it’s not available on Amazon (we’re working on it!) but you can arrange collection in Alhaurin el Grande by email or by calling me on 605 882 461.
Follow the simple instructions exactly.
7 - Schedule your pool maintenance - plan your pool maintenance to minimize water loss. For example, schedule maintenance tasks involving draining water, such as cleaning filters or replacing pool tiles, during the rainy season.
8 - Use an automatic pool filler - install an automatic pool filler that continuously monitors the water level in your pool and adds water as needed, reducing water loss.
8 - Choose water-efficient pool equipment - look for pool equipment, such as pumps and filters, that are water-efficient and reduce the amount of water needed for maintenance.
9 - Seek Professional Advice – Consult a pool maintenance professional or water conservation expert.
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We still have 2 stainless steel and 2 Marine Blue handrails in stock, reduced to clear at €100.00 each. Much cheaper than a broken hip!
We will not be making any more so now’s your last chance!
That’s all for March. If you need free, helpful advice on your pool you may well find it on our website, https://archive.poolsafetyspain.com/
Have a great summer! Ken
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