You probably spend a great deal of time and money maintaining your swimming pool using traditional methods outlined by experts. Chemicals are a large part of your maintenance and your energy and water bills can be high at the peak of the season.
But, there are some simple ways to make your swimming pool eco-friendly. Using pool equipment that saves energy and switching to more eco-friendly maintenance practices can turn your pool into a “green” oasis.
In this article, we’ve outlined some of the top ways to lessen the impact of your pool on the environment, plus how you can get help doing it.
Tips On How To Make Your Pool Eco-Friendly
If you’re interested in a few simple ways to convert to an eco-friendly pool, here are the best ways to accomplish that:
Use Fewer Chemicals in Your Pool
Chlorine is the primary sanitizer for swimming pools. It is a reliable way to kill bacteria and is safe when used in small amounts. So, why switch to anything else? There are some problems associated with the use of chlorine, such as overuse, odor, off-gassing, the breakdown of chlorine due to sunlight, and skin irritations. Since 2019, there have also been shortages of chlorine for pools.
For these reasons, some people switch to alternative ways that are available to keep a pool clean and safe. Here are a few of those options.
Alternative Pool Systems:
Copper System
Unlike a salt chlorinator, UV sterilizer, or ozonator, the copper-based system doesn’t require any expensive hardware to buy and install. A pool ionizer uses copper and silver ions to destroy bacteria and algae in the water. Silver ions remove bacteria, while copper ions prevent algae. With this system, you can use a chlorine-free shock product to keep the pool chlorine free.
Salt Chlorinator
In a saltwater pool, a salt generator converts salt to chlorine which means you don’t have to add any additional chlorine. Saltwater pools are generally more expensive to install but require less maintenance.
Ozone and UV Systems
Relatively new to swimming pools, ozone and UV Systems are secondary disinfection systems. When used together, they have a 99.9 percent kill rate of chlorine-resistant microorganisms. These systems can often help you reduce your use of chlorine by 50 to 90%.
Mineral Systems
Mineral systems serve as a secondary disinfection system and help cut down on the use of chlorine in your pool. Silver and copper are used to fight algae and bacteria growth, which does require the use of some chlorine or chlorine-free shock.
Let’s move on to additional ways to create a more eco-friendly swimming pool.
Use a Pool Cover
One of the benefits of covering your pool is that it eliminates up to 95% of the water evaporation from the pool. That means a saving on water usage. A cover also saves the pool heater from working harder than it needs to when the pool isn’t being used. Even better, use a solar cover that will convert the sun’s rays to heat the water in your pool.
Switch to a Solar Heater
Any device that can be powered by the sun instead of using electricity or gas should be considered. A solar pool heater does exactly that. It may cost a little more to purchase but the savings in energy costs will balance it out in the long run.
Use Cartridge Filters or Switch to a Moss Filter
These types of filters use less water to keep them clean. And the cleaning is only needed twice a year, compared to sand or D.E. filters that have to be back-washed frequently.
Moss filters are a newer pool water purification filtering technique. These filters use sphagnum moss to filter the water to crystal-clear clarity. The moss also keeps bacterial colonies called biofilms from forming, colonies that chlorine does not eradicate completely. For that reason, moss filters help reduce chlorine usage and make the water in the pool more eco-friendly and healthier.
Use Your Pump Less and a Pump Timer More
Check your pool pump to determine if it’s the correct size for your pool. If it’s bigger than it needs to be, simply run it one to two hours less than you have been. Plus, using a pump timer will take over the responsibility of monitoring the pump and how much it is running. All of this lessens the electrical impact of your pool and saves money on your energy bills.
Keep Your Pool Filled All Year Long
The eco-friendly impact of keeping your pool filled all year is reflected in less water usage. An average-sized pool uses between 10,000 – 25,000 gallons of water. There is only one instance when you may need to drain all that water out: a severe black algae problem. Otherwise, leave the water in the pool all year and save all those gallons of water.
Convert to a Natural Swimming Pool
This is the most eco-friendly change you can make but it is an undertaking and requires serious consideration. To convert to a natural swimming pool, you will need both a swim zone and a regeneration zone and you have to commit to maintaining the plant life necessary to make it all work. Your current pool’s plumbing must be modified, too. The swimming pool water is filtered through the regeneration area filled with plants, then the clean water is returned to the swim area.
If you decide this is what you want, you will have a beautiful swimming pond in your yard that is chemical-free and eco-friendly.
An Eco-Friendly Pool is More Easily Possible Than You May Think
Congratulations on your decision to seek out eco-wise tips for your swimming pool! There are many ways to accomplish this, ranging from using solar devices whenever possible, saving water, using timers, reducing the use of chlorine, or redesigning your pool and its filtering system to a plant regeneration zone. Making your pool more eco-friendly is easier than you may think and there is help available!
Here at Pool School Videos, we can help you ensure that your pool stays clean and clear while using the least amount of chemicals necessary, for example by reducing chlorine consumption to only what is necessary. Our main objective is to make effective pool maintenance as easy as possible, so you can enjoy your pool much more.
Created by our founder, “the pool Doc” Mike Steele, these 20 self-paced, online pool care videos offer professional advice that you won’t find anywhere else, all for an affordable one-time fee. Plus, after your purchase, you will have access to the private Pool School Videos Facebook group where you can receive personalized guidance. Post a question and we’ll provide an answer within 24 hours!
