Everybody Into The Pool?

With temperatures blazing, swimming pools are increasingly inviting – particularly to those thinking of installing one on their property. But building a pool is not without its challenges – financially and environmentally.

Ironically, summer is a good time to think about taking the plunge, so to speak. Prime pool installation season is spring and maybe early summer, as the project will take eight to 12 weeks. So if you’re looking instead at fall, you may be able to get a pool company on the books for a good price – the average in-ground pool costs about $30,000 -- and you’ll be ahead of the game when summer rolls around again. (Winter is also a good time for pool installation, but it is perhaps better left to those who live in more temperate climates.) So fall it is when the ground tends to be dry and you can still do planting.

Beyond the cost, another major consideration is the pool’s effect on the environment. It takes 18,000 to 20,000 gallons of water to fill a pool, which will add upwards of $100 to your water bill at the outset. Then there is water evaporation, with averages of about a quarter-inch per day or 600 gallons per week. But though it may sound like an oxymoron, it is possible to have a sustainable pool. Pool covers and wind blocks will mitigate evaporation. Perhaps also think about a European-style natural pool with oxygenating plants that will clean itself. (Using saltwater will also be gentler on the skin and hair.) A natural pool may cost more initially but it will save your bank account, in terms of chemical maintenance, and the environment in the long run.