GA Swimming Pools Might Open This Summer Despite Drought

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GA Swimming Pools Might Open This Summer Despite Drought

Friday, February 8th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

If you follow this blog you may know that I live and own a swimming pool in Northern Georgia, USA. And if you read the news you’ll likely know that we’ve been suffering through the worst drought ever in history. There is currently a ban on all outdoor water usage, since late September, which includes filling public or private swimming pools or washing your pool filters. Fortunately it’s winter and pools were mostly closed when the ban took effect. However our severe drought continues and local pool owners, operators, builders and swim teams have been anxiously waiting to know if pool operations would be allowed this year. This week Georgia’s governor stated he would relax the water ban to allow pool filling and maintenance. However this edict can be overriden by local governments, who still must meet strict water usage requirements.

As a pool owner I am faintly relieved. I say faintly because I’ll bet that my county government will continue to ban outdoor water use. But I fear the governor’s plan fails to address the real issue here; which is rampant overdevelopment and lack of a sensible water management plan.

Note that while allowing swimming pool operations, the governor also allows for “hand-watering” of lawns - no auto sprinklers - three times a week between midnight and 10 AM. Say what? Let the lawn fend for itself - most are overwatered anyway. And what sane person is gonna hold a hosepipe and water the grass at 1 AM after a long day of work? Come on, Governor!… An unwatered lawn is not a health hazard - an ill-maintained swimming pool is. The lawn bit was solely to appease the landscape industry which has been taking a beating with the lack of rain. I am appalled (but not surprised) that no action was taken to place a moratorium on building permits for large scale developments or new swimming pools until their impacts on water use could be studied.

In anticipation that water rates will be raised substantially this summer to help enforce lower usage, I’m looking into buying rain barrels to help conserve. In addition to swimming I like to garden, and this will supplement my recycling of gray water (water from bathing and dishwashing) for ornamental, non-edible plants. I’ll also be doing some research into more environmentally-sensitive ways to manage the swimming pool. I’ll write about what I learn. I’d really like to see the swimming pool industry design and build more eco-friendly swimming pools that conserve water. The swimming pool of itself is not the problem. How we build and manage that pool can go a long way to help save scarce water resources.