Water Conservation in the Pool Industry
Communities across the country are starting to face challenges in maintaining healthy and affordable water supplies.
Communities across the country are starting to face challenges in maintaining healthy and affordable water supplies; that's why it's more important than ever to use our water wisely and not waste it. In addition, it takes large amounts of energy to process waste water and to transport clean water.
This is why the Environmental Protection Agency sponsored WaterSense - a partnership program, which seeks to protect the future of our water supply by promoting water efficiency and enhancing the market for water-efficient products, programs, and practices.
As communities across the country begin facing challenges regarding water supply and water infrastructure, WaterSense can help consumers identify water-efficient products and programs. The WaterSense label tells the consumer that products and programs that carry the label meet water efficiency and performance criteria, and will help save water, money, and energy. After gaining Energy Star labeling for certain pumps, the pool industry has set its sights on a similar initiative for pool covers. To begin the process, EPA must include covers in its program. Currently, the WaterSense labels are reserved for toilets, urinals, showerheads, and irrigation controllers that meet certain criteria. APSP’s (The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals) Water Conservation Coalition hired a lobbyist to help pool covers make the list, and the group is coming to Washington DC to garner support on March 18-19. Vendors representing 70-80% of the pool-cover manufacturers are coming to town. The Coalition will meet with EPA staff and visit Capitol Hill, focusing on lawmakers representing states where cover manufacturers are located and, therefore, whose economies benefit from the industry.
Pool covers require a relatively large investment it can save thousands of dollars and pay the customer back in a short time. What does it mean for clients?
- Pool covers minimize evaporation from both outdoor and indoor pools.
- Covering a pool when it is not in use is the single most effective means of reducing pool heating costs.
- Savings of 50%–70% are possible.
- Conserve water by reducing the amount of make-up water needed by 30%–50%
- Reduce the pool's chemical consumption by 35%–60%
- Reduce cleaning time by keeping dirt and other debris out of the pool.
It may be a one- or two-year process to get covers included in the WaterSense program, just as it was with pool pumps and Energy Star. The coalition seeks the support of the legislators who can help nudge the process if things come to a standstill. Water conservation is essential in many parts of the country, and many cities and counties will strictly regulate water consumption during periods of drought. A pool cover keeps valuable water in the pool for us to enjoy. Around the world, pool covers preserve hundreds of millions of gallons of heated and balanced pool water each year.
