Lap of Luxury

Don't let the drought give you the guilts about installing a pool.

Words by Phyllis Stylianou
From Handyman Magazine


Lap of luxury - Contemporary pool designs, such as this lap pool, fit in with any yard or size
Lap of luxury - Contemporary pool designs, such as this lap pool, fit in with any yard or size
javascript:void(0);
Lap of luxury - Contemporary pool designs, such as this lap pool, fit in with any yard or size
Lap of luxury - Contemporary pool designs, such as this lap pool, fit in with any yard or size
Image
That great Aussie icon, the backyard swimming pool, is under threat. And guilt is the enemy. The recent drought and water restrictions have led many homeowners to believe that putting in a pool is environmentally irresponsible. In fact, pool sales around the country are down by about 20% on last year.

But according to NSW Pool and Spa Association president Manfred Wiesemes, would-be pool owners are being put off their dream because of misconceptions. ‘Swimming pools aren’t the water guzzlers they’re perceived to be,’ he says. ‘They store water for long periods of time and are literally lifesavers. These unofficial water storage reservoirs have helped protect homes, livestock, vegetation and people during bushfires.’

Today’s smaller building block sizes mean modern swimming pools have shrunk and need as little as 12kL to fill. They account for less than 10% of the annual household water used in greater Sydney.

Unlike water consumed in other areas of the house, pool water is filtered, sanitised and used over and over again. (Think about that next time you soak in the bathtub or flush the toilet with perfectly good drinking water.)
MAINTAINING WATERWORKS
In recent years, pool and spa associations around the country have lobbied state and territory governments to change legislation, and taken other steps to ensure pools don’t waste drinking water.

In NSW, rainwater tanks are mandatory for topping up all new pools with more than a 40kL capacity, while smaller pools must have either a rainwater tank for top-ups, cover or shade. SPASA Victoria tapped into an aquifer to enable new pools to be filled with bore water, while in the ACT, the association has proposed water-saving measures to the territory government, including the use of recycled water to fill swimming pools.

DIVING IN
Installing a swimming pool is one of the most expensive home investments and the potential for disaster is proportionately large. But there are a few simple steps to minimise the risk of throwing money into an empty pit.

Most Australian states and territories have a swimming pool and spa association, whose members agree to abide by high standards of skill, workmanship and ethical business behaviour. Visit their websites for contract checklists before signing anything. State government fair trading or consumer affairs departments also have checklists.

Australia has the highest number of pool owners per capita in the world, nearly half of which are in NSW. More than 16,000 pools were installed in that state alone last year, yet the NSW Department of Fair Trading received only 405 complaints about swimming pools in 2006 (40% related to poor service).

Fair Trading did manage to unearth a horror story – a pool hole that collapsed after several weeks of rain and a broken sewer pipe. Enormous disasters are rare and constant, detailed communication between pool owner and builder is the key to a stress-free result.