Pool owners urged to cover up and save 300 litres a day
February 6, 2009
ACTEW Corporation is reminding Canberrans that private pools can only be topped up during current Stage 3 Water Restrictions if the pool owner has registered the pool with ACTEW and a pool cover is in place when the pool is not in use.
"With this long hot weather spell come extreme evaporation rates, which have triggered our call for action," said Managing Director Mark Sullivan.
"So far this year, Canberra has received 52mm of rain yet we've lost 350mm of water through evaporation. In pools, about 97 per cent of this evaporation can be prevented by using a cover according to the industry."
"With a daily mean evaporation rate of 10mm so far this year, an average sized pool with no cover could lose over 300 litres of water a day and the average garden hose would need to be on for nearly 20 minutes each day to maintain the water level of this pool.
"A pool cover is an absolute necessity and due to the restrictions residents are required to register their new or existing pool with us to make the commitment for its use," said Mr Sullivan.
Spiros Dassakis, General Manager of the Swimming Pool and Spa Association of NSW, said that investing in a pool blanket is an effective and convenient way for owners to heat their pool whilst saving water.
"There are a multitude of pool covers on the market catering to specific needs and budgets, and information is readily available through SPASA, water conservation schemes such as savewater!® and Smart Water Mark Approved," said Mr Dassakis.
Residents can register their pool by completing and lodging a pool registration form via the ACTEW website or by contacting the ACTEW Water Conservation Office on 6248 3131.
Once the pool registration form has been fully completed, lodged and approved, pools may be topped up in accordance with the applicable exemption conditions.
References
www.bom.gov.au
www.daisypoolcovers.com.au/pdf/FactSheet_1_Evaporation.pdf
www.spasa.org.au