Here’s why Installing a Fibreglass Swimming Pool in Drought-Stricken Cape Town is not the Worst Idea

With ‘drought’ hanging over the heads of Capetonians since 2017, water babies are querying what this means for swimming pools. Municipal water has been limited to just 50 l per person per day, causing the mere thought of using potable water to fill a swimming pool as sinful. Does this mean the end of private swimming pools? Despite water restrictions that are currently in effect, the Cape Town municipality has confirmed that no restrictions on pool installations exist, so should you still be holding back on that new swimming pool installation?

If the water situation has left you stalling a pool upgrade, perhaps it’s time to reconsider. As winter edges closer, you could get a head start on the summertime rush for a swimming pool. Although there are options to fill your pool with non-potable water, such as borehole water or water collected via a JoJo tank, you could allow the high levels of forecasted rain to get your new pool filled for the summer. Once your pool is filled there are measures that can be taken to keep your pool off the grid. The movement towards ‘water neutral’ pools emphasises the need to maintain pools in a way that retains as much water as possible. This is achieved by preventing evaporation through the use of a thermal blanket as well as the installation of filtration systems which limit the amount of water needed to keep the pool clean.

Landscaping around the pool can also use water so it’s advisable that you take your time at this stage. The pool installation itself can take as little as a few days when opting for a fibreglass pool through a concrete pool installation can take significantly longer and is generally more expensive. Installation of the fibreglass pool itself uses very little water (and what is used is non-potable water anyways) whilst concrete pools require more water for its construction. For this reason, many homeowners are choosing not to put the brakes on a pool install just yet, especially when opting for fibreglass. Whatever you decide, be sure to practise effective methods of maintenance and commit to water-wise habits that stay with you long after the drought is gone.