In pool care circles, the word “green” is not typically looked upon with much delight. Whenever that word surfaces, it usually means that a colony of algae has taken over the pool—transforming the water from clear blue to murky green. This renders it unswimmable until a sufficient amount of shock can be added to the water.
But these days the word “green” has become a symbol of the pool industry’s efforts to become more eco-friendly. Every day industry experts are working hard to make pool care more innovative, sustainable, and friendly to Mother Earth.
Carl Alfred, Pool Scouts’ field operations and business coach, has noticed the following eco-friendly pool care trends that are helping to make the industry a little more “green:”
The filter is one of the many key components that helps keep a pool clean, and Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is one of the most popular types of filters. It’s composed of sedimentary rock but is considered to be carcinogenic in some parts of the country. So, if your dog gets its paws on it…you have a problem.
Wood pulp, on the other hand, actually works better than a DE filter, and it’s made from mostly recycled paper and is biodegradable. Depending on where you live it might be a bit difficult to walk into your corner pool supply store and purchase a wood pulp filter. But if your retailer doesn’t have it readily available he should be able to order it for you.
Sand has jagged edges that trap debris, and these filters do their job well by all accounts. But sand does eventually begin to break down, and a typical sand filter only lasts about 4-5 years.
Glass, however, has a negative charge, which allows fine particles to cling to it, thus keeping the pool water clean. It works just as well as sand filters (even better according to some experts) and can last for about 15 years. Glass filters can also cut down on waste. Instead of tossing your old sand filter you can simply replace the sand with glass. Glass filters are also readily available across the country.
Many people are switching to energy efficient pool pumps that keep clean water flowing in the pool, but don’t suck up quite as much energy. Your average pump can use the same amount of power as an electric oven, but energy-efficient pumps only use about as much as a 60-100-watt bulb.
There are tons of pool care products on the market that are eco-friendly and do what they promise—keep your pool clean. If you take care of your pool yourself and are thinking about making the switch to some of these brands, feel free to have a chat with your friendly neighborhood pool supply retailer. He will most likely be able to point you toward the right brand that will meet your pool care needs as well as your eco-friendly needs. You can also request that your pool-service company begin using products that meet your eco-friendly approval.
Pool Scouts is always willing to work with our clients to help keep your pool and the environment as clean as possible. Scout’s Honor!
