Pool restrictions beginning to concern parents
An article yesterday in the AJC shows some of the growing concern that parents are facing as they realize that pools might not be filled this summer. We’ve talked about this before, but this article shows that more people are starting to realize it.
Back in September of last year, all outdoor water use was banned. This includes filling or adding water to any outdoor pool. As of right now, that ban is still in effect. Some pools are making plans to fill somehow — Edgewater Subdivision may add a pump to their well to get water for the pool.
Most others are simply “hoping that it rains”, my subdivision included.
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I am tired of being afraid to wash normal items (shoes, coolers, lawn equipment) outside for fear of cops showing up after being called by overzealous neighbors. Now they want to take the pools. Where would we be without the water restrictions? 2% below where are? 1%?
It was weird stopping for gas in Alabama and watching people go through a car wash using most likely released Lanier water.
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:40 pm
We’re installing a rain barrel system in a couple of weeks. Ten barrels,each holding 55 gals. We have a fairly large roof,according to the calculations,around a quarter inch of rain will take in about 650 gals. We’ll use that for the pool and for our veggie garden.
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:53 pm
rain barrells are all well and good but what about the year we have an abnormally HIGH amount of rainfall (could be NEXT year)?
we are going to have a malaria outbreak from all the mosquitos
January 24th, 2008 at 2:29 am
Let’s talk a little about why White Water is exempt from restrictions this summer, apparently due to the simple fact that they are a “for-profit” business. Can anyone explain how this is supposed to be ok?
-st
January 24th, 2008 at 3:45 am
ST > just call your pool a profit generating thing and be exempt like White Water. Heck Coca-Cola intends to bottle Desani no matter what, so Atlanta’s government has weird priorities.
January 24th, 2008 at 10:34 am
C.Little, modern rain barrels are sealed to protect the water from evaporation, and there’s a screen between the gutter intake and the barrel to prevent debris from clogging the barrel faucet. There’ll be no additional mosquitos.
January 24th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
SCREENS??? NOBODY SAID ANYTHING ABOUT SCREENS!!!!
THESE RAIN BARREL THINGS ARE GETTING COMPLICATED!
CAN’T WE JUST GO BACK TO PRAYING FOR RAIN AGAIN?
January 24th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
ST -
Not saying it’s right or wrong, just giving you a different viewpoint. Exempting “for profit” businesses makes some sense when you consider that those same businesses will probably have to lay off employees if they can’t conduct business as normal. When setting up water restrictions, the ideal would be to have the maximum impact on water use with the minimum impact on peoples lives. You can look at restrictions on business water use to have a very heavy impact on those who depend on those jobs.
Should whitewater be able to do something a neigborhood pool can’t? Probably not. Maybe if I were head of a neighborhood organization, I might form an LLC to operate the pool and dare someone to shut us down. You don’t actually have to make a profit to be a “for profit” business.
January 29th, 2008 at 10:55 am
RichS is right.
The interesting thing is that White water is exempt, but HOA pools are not, even though businesses like mine, which are for profit, depend on these pools operating.
The only difference is that we do not own the facility. But that reason was not given when they decided to make water parks exempt. Only the “for profit” reason was given.
The HOAs own their facilities and must collect membership dues to operate, and that may be difficult to do if the pool doesn’t open. So their “business” will also be negatively affected.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:56 am
I hate to burst anyone’s bubble, but rain barrels are “technically” not an option for filling swimming pools, because according to health standards, swimming pools can only be filled with potable water.
So this poses a problem for their use on commercial pools, where health departments regulate that. For backyard pools, you can pretty much do as you please, because no inspector is going to inspect if you’re filling your pool off a rain barrel. But I would caution anyone using this method to make sure they chemically treat that water before or as it’s being added to your pool. Make sure you’re not also adding debris off the roof and downspouts to your pool, too.
February 1st, 2008 at 8:44 am
I think it would be ridiculous to close swimming pools during the summer. Children need a place to have fun when they are not in school and, additionally, it’s a safety issue. Kids need to learn how to swim. Even our pediatrician stressed this when our daughter turned four. This could be considered a matter of self preservation which, I believe, trumps business, jobs or lawns.
Is it true that golf courses can still be watered? How can the legislature really entertain the notion of closing pools and, at the same time, allow golf courses to continue being watered? Both industries employ people yet the pools serve more, many of which are our children.