How do pools lose water,and what is the solution?

There are a few reasons why a pool loses water and they are largely preventable. 

Evaporation is the main offender but the solution is simple, cover liquid and it can’t evaporate, and that’s why covered pools are water smart. 

Consider this – for an average size (6m x 3m) pool in South Africa, approx 105 litres a day are lost to evaporation. Add that up for all pools in South Africa and our dams stay fuller for much, much longer!

Fountains and water features – the aerationdrives up evaporation rates. Turn them off!

Boisterous or “splashy” swimming is common when kids and dogs are in the pool, but try minimise it. 

Heated pools – warmer water evaporates faster. Lower your heat pump settings and use an EnergyGuard cover to retain the heat in the water and stop evaporation. 

Wind – hard to control but wind drives up evaporation. If you can, plant trees and shrubs around the pool to reduce wind, but a pool cover is a far easier solution.

Backwashing and rinsing – a necessary part of pool maintenance but uses a lot of water. Backwash or rinse only when absolutely necessary. 

Leaks – if your water levels are dropping faster than normal, you may have a leak. Look up the Bucket Method for pool leak detection or chat to your local pool shop.