Improving Water Efficiency in a Municipal Indoor Swimming-Pool Complex: A Case Study

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the water demand of a municipal swimming pool complex to propose water use efficiency measures. Concomitantly, the possibility of recycling and reusing the water from filter backwashing was evaluated. The pools consumed 25.6% of water, the filter backwashing 24.5%, and the showers 34.7%. Despite the current impossibility of reducing water consumption in pools and filter backwashing, it is feasible to promote more efficient use of water through reducing water consumption by adopting simple water-saving initiatives for showers, taps, and flushing cisterns. These were organized into three distinct scenarios: (a) flushing cistern volume adjustment and the replacement of washbasin and kitchen taps; (b) flushing cistern volume adjustment and shower replacement and (c) flushing cistern volume adjustment, shower, washbasin, and kitchen taps replacement. Under scenarios 1, 2, and 3, the water consumption reduction was 8.0, 13.2, and 20.4%, respectively. The initial investment for scenario 1 was €2290.5, €859.0 for scenario 2 and €3149.5 for scenario 3; the annual water bill reduction was €7115.4, €11,518.1, and €17,655.9, respectively. Therefore, the turnover of the investment was four (scenario 1), one (scenario 2), and three months (scenario 3). The filter washings attained the required standard for irrigation after being subjected to 15 h of sedimentation.

Water Reuse in a Municipal Sports Center

“…Afterward, samples were analyzed for total suspended solids (TSS), pH, turbidity, and total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and streptococci colonies were enumerated. Further information concerning methodology can be found in [12].…”

Frontiers in Freshwater Ecology, Conservation and Water Treatment Technologies

“…Contributions [7,8] focused on freshwater ecosystem monitoring. The contribution [9] proposed measures to improve water efficiency in a public building, contributions [10][11][12] investigated methods to improve wastewater treatment methodologies, contribution [13] evaluated how treated effluent impacted the health of the recipient river, contribution [14] evaluated the economic sustainability of wastewater treatment plants. Bird et al [7] monitored different species of freshwater mussels.…”

“…Silva et al [9] aimed to determine the water demand of a municipal swimming pool complex in order to propose water use efficiency measures. Concomitantly, the possibility of recycling and reusing the water from filter backwashing for irrigation was evaluated.…”

Assessment of Measures to Increase Water Efficiency in Public Swimming Pools

“…There are few studies in this field [25][26][27], but a recent article concerning research in the north of Portugal (Bragança), in the same context of increasing water efficiency in municipal swimming pools, should be highlighted. In this last study, however, diverse types of interventions are analysed, such as the possibility of reusing filter washing water and the replacement of taps and washbasins with more efficient ones [28].…”