Landscape designers are often required to advise on pool type, location, size and how to integrate the pool into a new or existing garden. Losses to evaporation are very high due to WA’s hot summers and drying easterlies.
Mean Daily Evaporation Volume
The chart at the bottom of this page shows some sample pool volumes and average DAILY evaporation in litres for these three pool sizes across five capital cities.
If you are in Perth, and have a 9.2m x 4.5m pool, you are losing an average 344 litres each and every day for the 6 month swimming season.
The approximate total water lost is a staggering 182 days x 344 litres = 62,608 litres – or 10,435 litres a month.
To replace that water you would need to run a hose for 20 minutes EVERY SINGLE DAY for six months.
Pool design guidelines
- Reduce pool size
- Insist on a pool cover and incorporate storage for the cover in the design.
- Use shade sails to reduce evaporation.
- Minimise wind exposure through hedging, walls or screening.
- Suggest overhanging pavers or decking to minimise splashout.
- Recommend a backwash minimisationsystem.
Pool covers can save up to 95%of water loss to evaporation
| POOL LENGTH (m) | POOL WIDTH (m) | SURFACE AREA (m2) | AVERAGE DEPTH (m) | WATER CAPACITY (litres) | SYDNEY (litres) | MELBOURNE (litres) | BRISBANE (litres) | ADELAIDE (litres) | PERTH (litres) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.0 | 4.0 | 32.0 | 1.3 | 41,600 | 205 | 205 | 221 | 237 | 266 |
| 9.2 | 4.5 | 41.1 | 1.3 | 53,820 | 265 | 265 | 286 | 306 | 344 |
| 10.0 | 5.0 | 50.0 | 1.3 | 65,000 | 320 | 320 | 345 | 370 | 415 |
