Swimming Pools

Pool systems

The standard size is 8m x 4m which is suitable for most domestic usage. The volume will be about 48m3 which equates to 48,000 litres of water.

Pipe work from the pool leads to a pump house which houses a multi port (rotary) valve, isolation valves, a filter and a pump. The system works by switching on the pump which forces water through the filter, to connecting pipes to ports (jets) at  one end of the pool. At the opposite end of the pool is a port with a small flap. The port is called the skimmer and inside a pipe leads back to the pump. The flow of water takes all surface debris into the skimmer so there is a coarse filter basket inside which is accessible through a cover at the pool edge. There is a second return path to the pump through a pipe fitted to the bottom of the pool.

The multi port valve allows you to re-circulate water, to backwash, to rinse and to drain water to the waste system as well as close the system off.

Contaminants are trapped in the filter and clean water emerges at the jets.

Chlorine and pH

Free chlorine is a measure of the active chlorine level in the water. Chlorine is introduced periodically to the pool manually, usually in the form of tablets in the skimmer.

The pH level is an indication of the acidity/alkalinity of the water. Acidic water will eat away metal. High alkalinity results in deposits of scale which can seriously affect the main filter.

It is essential that at the very least, free chlorine and pH levels are maintained within the relevant parameters.

Costs

Suitable weather conditions are mostly prevalent in the months between June and September. So we will assume that the pool is available for one third of the year. The rest of the time it is out of use.

Assuming that you don’t drain it for the winter you will need to run it all year. In the summer, a 50,000 litre pool may need 4 or more hours filtration a day. A very rough approximation leads to a figure of around 1,000 hours a year. That equates to some 1000 kW hours. At 12 – 15 cents per unit this equates to around €120 – 150 a year.

If you use a third party to maintain your pool, it will cost around 60 – 90 Euros a month depending on the quality of the maintainer and the number of visits made which is another €720 – 1000 a year.

On top of this are water costs. Each time the pool filter is cleaned, dirty water has to be flushed away to waste.

You have to buy tools to do minor maintenance tasks like remove leaves etc.

If you live in an apartment you will have a communal facility. But the above costs are still relevant, and you will still pay a management tariff. Always remember that the sea is free all year round!!

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© Ray Chiverton

Costas Property Services

27 August 2009