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Annual
Water Use
in
Melbourne
620.5 Billion Litres
Source
Melbourne Water
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Annual
Water Use New
Swimming Pools in
Victoria
150 Million Litres
(based on 5000 pools at 30,000 litres)
0.03%
Can only be filled with conservation plan and water saving showerheads and dual flush toilets. Showers alone are estimated to save 20,000 litres per person, 40,000 for a two person home 10,000 more litres than the average pool.
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Media Release |
18 October 2006 |
Swimming Pool Industry Goes To Ground
The Swimming Pool and Spa Association (SPASA) in Victoria today said it was investigating the potential of ground water to protect the jobs of some ten thousand Victorians and ensure a supply of water for new pools and to top up existing swimming pools.
On average 5000 swimming pools are built a year in Victoria and the industry contributes $750 million to the Victorian economy.
Ted Martin, President of SPASA said, "Bore water has been used in country and regional areas to fill new pools and top up existing pools for a number of years and we are confident that the comparatively small amount of water needed to ensure the economic stability of the industry in Victoria will be available from ground water sources."
To put the amount of water in perspective 150 million litres which will be needed to fill pools for the year will be just 0.03% of Melbourne's annual water use of 620.5 billion litres. (1.7 billion daily average x 365 days)
Mr Martin said that SPASA is investigating the utilisation of three bores which will be located at Frankston, the western and the northern suburbs of Melbourne to supply all water for new pools and topping up. The cost will add an estimated $800 to $1000 onto the average swimming pool.
Mr Martin said, "all pool owners should be installing a water tank for roof harvesting and topping up to ensure they can maintain the correct water level for the efficient operation of their filtration systems".
"Whilst pools could be still be filled at level two restrictions with a conservation plan, the industry for the past four years has been implementing water saving strategies and had moved to put the bore water strategy in place as a prudent and socially responsible strategy," Mr Martin said.
SPASA is also encouraging new technology such as the liquid pool cover, sand filters which can be converted to not wasting any water and cartridge filters which use three to four buckets of water a year to clean. The industry has also sponsored the Backyards for Learning program created by leading environmental education organisation the Gould Group.
SPASA - What's new in Water Conservation
Fast Facts about Pools and Water
