Loading. Please wait...
 
1800 252 758

Harvesting Safe and Clean Rainwater for Your Swimming Pool

If you have the luxury of a swimming pool on your property, then you probably become the envy of your neighbours who don’t during the hotter summer months of the year as your family splashes around.

What many don’t realise is the amount of time and cost that often goes into maintaining a swimming pool – vacuuming, chemical balancing, fixing cloudy water and algae blooms, etc.

As you backwash your sand filter to ensure it continues optimally filtering your pool water of small particles, you will see hundreds of litres of water pumped down the drain. You may even start feeling a bit guilty, right? Especially if there are water restrictions in place. Throw in thousands of litres of water lost in evaporation, and you’ll be performing significant pool water top ups throughout the year especially during summer time.

Some states require you to meet water efficiency requirements before you can use your mains water supply for your swimming pool. Thankfully, you don’t have to experience any guilt and can have more freedom if you harvest rainwater.

Storing Rainwater for Pool Use

Installing a pipe that leads from a gutter, directly into the swimming pool is an easy and manageable way to keep your pool topped up with rainwater. The better option, is to harvest rainwater into a storage tank which allows you to maximise.

Collecting rainwater into poly tanks is inexpensive, and provides a great solution to balance your pool water levels in a more environmentally conscious manner. You then also tap into your rainwater for gardens, and/or pipe it into your house to be used in toilet flushing and clothes washing.

Clean and Safe Rainwater

You will be swimming in your rainwater, so when harvesting it from your roof you will obviously want to ensure it is safe and clean. Several things to be aware of include:

  • Ensuring your roof is made from a non-hazardous material. For example, rainwater in contact with lead or preservative-treated timber can cause harm.
  • Installing appropriate screens and filters so debris, leaves and/or insects don’t find their way into your pool or water tank. A combination of gutter guards, rain heads, water diverters and/or strainers are all good (read article, Downpipe “First Flush” Rainwater Diverters).
  • As always, regularly check that the pool is chlorinated and chemically balanced.

On a positive note, rainwater is soft so results in less calcium builds up in chlorinator cells. Meaning you won’t have to, or as regularly, clean them in an acid-water solution. It is also better to swim in and your chemicals will work more effectively.

If you are interested in purchasing a water tank to store rainwater for your swimming pool, Clark Tanks provides a range of tanks in varying shapes, sizes and colours including accessories that will help keep your rainwater safe and clean.