The History of the Swimming Pool
What is summertime without a free all access pass to the pool? Depending on where you live, the local swim club or gym with pool might be close to impossible to join, especially if the waiting list goes into the next year. Instead of sweltering outside on your patio during those balmy days, you can enjoy the sun from a cooler place…from a backyard leisure pool. Just imagine yourself floating around on a raft without a care in the world. How can you pass that up?
While the thought of having your own swimming pool is wonderful, this addition does require regular maintenance, and if you’re not conscious enough, it could aid in wastefulness with regard to water and electricity. Fortunately, there are environmentally friendly alternatives as well as accessories that can prevent your leisure pool from having a significant footprint.
Swimming Pools of the Past
Aside from bathing pools, the use of swimming pools was first recorded in 2500 B.C. Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and Assyria were using these manmade bodies of water for various purposes. For example, pools were educational tools in Rome and Greece for elementary school boys. One historical figure in particular who is associated with the swimming pool is Gaius Maecenas, a wealthy Roman lord. He built the first heated leisure pool, which was available to the public, as many Roman pools were. In addition, swimming was a competitive sport in Japan about 2,000 years ago.
So this is where swimming pools started in our history. Initially, they were used more so for education and sporting activities, and they also brought the public together. While these same characteristics draw people to pools today, the modern oasis offers more entertainment, relaxation and eco-friendly gadgets.
The Evolution of the Swimming Pool
By the 19th century, pools became more popular structures. The first Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece in 1896 and swimming was a feature competition, which took place in the Aegean Sea. By the following year, London, England was on board with swimming and built six indoor pools. These London pools took it a step further and were even equipped with diving boards.
Today there are many different pool designs:
- Play pool (no deeper than five feet for children’s safety)
- Diving pool (about 8.5 feet deep)
- Freeform pool (oasis like with rock features)
- Geometric pool (traditional round), lap pool (narrow and long for exercise)
- Negative edge pool or infinity pool (pool appears to go on forever)
- Spool (oversized spa)
- Perimeter overflow pool (upscale with high water level)
Some famous luxury pools include Hugh Hefner’s swimming pool area at the Playboy Mansion, the “Ocean Dome” at the Seagaia Resort in Japan (world’s largest indoor pool), the San Alfonso Del Mar’s pool in Algarobo, Chile (world’s largest pool) and the pool of Hearst Castle in California. In all of these cases, pools are meant for luxury, fun and relaxation.
Ways to Optimize Your Pool’s Efficiency
Once you have your contemporary pool furniture, backyard fire pits and other outdoor essentials setup around your pool, you can focus your energy on making your swimming pool the most efficient one on the block. So where do you even begin? Well, below are some tips on how to keep your leisure pool sustainable.
- Use a Pool Cover
Because of evaporation, you could lose up to 70 percent of your pool’s heat, and the chemicals such as chlorine can vanish too.
- Reduce the Water Temperature
Lowering your pool’s water temperature during certain months can decrease your electric bill and reduce your carbon footprint. An alternative is to install a solar pool heater.
- Maintain the Pool
Regularly cleaning and lubricating your pool’s cleaning and heating equipment can increase its longevity. After all, you don’t want to spend extra money replacing parts.
- Operate the Pool Filter & Sweeper During Off-Peak Hours
Try operating these pool functions between 6 pm and noon on weekdays and anytime on Saturdays and Sundays. These are generally off-peak hours. Or install solar pool accessories that run off of the grid.
- Transition to a Water-Saving Pool Filter
Traditional filters can use as much as 180 to 250 gallons of water and water is a precious resource worthy of conserving.
- Create a Natural Windbreak
Planting trees and bushes around your pool is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it will also prevent the hot, dry air from absorbing the pool’s moisture.
- Choose Green Pool Cleaning
Instead of draining all of the water and refilling your pool, find a service that filters the water in an attempt to conserve it. Also, saltwater pools are an option, because they have a lower evaporation rate and require fewer chemicals.
Altering some of your pool habits or choosing alternative accessories such as solar powered devices can increase your pool’s efficiency and make it a more enjoyable backyard addition. Wouldn’t you feel better relaxing by the poolside when you know that your swimming pool is as sustainable as it can be? Plus, these eco-friendly pool tips will save you money in long run, which might be the best part of it all!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marina Hanes is a writer and owner of Cat’s Eye Editing, LLC. She received a B.A. in Professional Writing & Editing from Youngstown State University, and her professional area of focus is Environmental Studies.
