Swimming Pool News Dec 2008

04-31 NEWS:SPN Master pages 18/11/08 22:06 Page 14
spnnews
More pools opt for the
NEWS IN BRIEF
“recycled glass option”
Essex pool in shutdown
Witham’s swimming pool has been
More swimming pools are likely saving on energy and water closed while builders move in to
to opt in 2009 to put beer and replacement and disposal costs restore crumbling concrete
wine bottles to good use when – another plus point for our columns. Bramston Sports Centre
it comes to keeping water clean carbon footprint.” which includes an adult, children’s
and clear – and notching up a Andy Crewe, from Total Pool The benefits are : and diving pool – will undergo a
bonus for the industry’s carbon Chemicals, said: “Keeping a It removes 30% more material £250,000 structural refit for six
footprint. swimming pool in good condition and pollutants than sand, so weeks. The additional cost of the
The recycled bottles and jars is an involved process using saving on backwashing and work comes as an added blow for
have been specially processed special water filters filled with a the resultant water, energy Braintree District Council, which is
to make a filtering material filtering media – usually sand. and chemical treatment costs still hoping a new pool, likely to
called EGFM, which stands for “But because silica sand is a It’s less susceptible to bio- cost millions, could be built in
Eco Glass Filter Media – used to finite resource, EGFM which is fouling, as the product is heat Witham. The Bridge Street
keep swimming pool waters made from recycled glass bottles treated surfaces are smooth, complex, which was completed in
crystal clear. and jars, is a more so requiring less remedial 1974, is in good shape for its age –
Lesley McLaughlin, one environmentally-friendly option.” action and again less chemical but damp conditions on the “wet
leisure centre manager which Eco Glass Filter Media (EGFM) treatment to kill pollutants side” have led to major corrosion.
has used the glass option said: is the new environmentally It’s less dense than sand,
“Since the filter was replaced friendly and cost effective filter requiring 15% less media to
with glass there has been a media that provides a viable fill the equivalent filter Pools to close in cuts
marked improvement in the alternative to sand. Made from Crisis-hit Aberdeen City Council is
pool’s water clarity. glass recycled in the UK, it
TOTAL POOL CHEMICALS
planning to axe 400 jobs as part of
“And because the filters are doesn’t involve intrusive mining a second wave of budget cuts which
pc www.totalpoolchemicals.co.uk
working more efficiently we are and the use of scarce resources. could involve the closure of more
swimming pools. It also emerged
that the majority of the cuts –
including a possible £3.7m hit to
ZERO CARBON FOOTPRINT FROM demonstrated that Europe’s city voluntary groups – will begin to
LUXURY SOLAR POWERED POOL
mature destinations such as be implemented within weeks.
Spain, France and the UK are
Poprad as a town isn’t all that visit us are in awe of what we have dragging their feet over the
attractive. The view of the done here – but they are certainly growing consumer demand New £25m pool for
Tatras Mountains competes inspired. The goal of a zero rated for sustainable and more Luton
with factories where bread carbon footprint is possible.” socially aware travel products. Proposals for a £24.9m aquatic
and tyres are made, and the The resort’s environmentally- They have much to learn from centre in Luton have been
grey tower blocks are a legacy responsible operation helps offset the passion and enthusiasm of unveiled. Along with an Olympic-
of Slovakia’s Communist past. the energy consumed in reaching emerging destinations such as sized swimming pool, the site will
But what’s extra special AquaCity. The most scenic way to Slovakia.” include a diving centre, a sports
about it is that Poprad is home reach AquaCity is to arrive by Cooke said that he hoped the hall and a fitness suite.
to the green and grand eco- plane in Krakow followed by a launch of the first international Hazel Simmons, leader of Luton
project known as AquaCity, two and a half hour drive through Green Awards would help to Borough Council, said: “Luton
which features the only luxury the mountains. change perceptions and shift a deserves a fantastic swimming
solar-powered swimming pool A first glimpse of AquaCity is greater emphasis on to the pool and the facilities associated
complex in the world, and has probably not what the average environment. with a first-class aquatic centre.
been voted the globe’s top traveller would expect of a AquaCity’s owner and Chief Developing the health of our
green resort. green resort: it is a view of tall Executive, Mr Jan Telensky, residents, both young and old,
Not all of the town is grey flumes and shimmering tubes emphasised the importance of and investing in the future of
and unattractive, however and that eject loads of children into embracing green issues as part potential sports champions is
AquaCity rises from the the pools below. The resort’s of any business plan. something the council has made a
mountains in the country’s exterior is stainless and glass, “At AquaCity we’re saving strong commitment to.”
north. The unusual attraction is but the appeal is in the around 27 tonnes of CO2 from David Sparkes, the Amateur
part health spa, family water accommodation, where rooms entering the atmosphere each Swimming Association’s Chief
park, built in combination with boast sweeping views of the day by using geothermal water Executive, welcomed the news:
two hotels – and promising a mountains, the pools are sunken and solar energy to heat and “We believe the proposals will
zero carbon footprint. and lights around the complex power the resort. This saves meet the swimming requirements
First open to the public in are sensitive to even the most millions of euros each year, of the whole community, leading
2004, in 2007, the resort saved gentle footsteps. contributing to our profitability to greater swimming participation
€2.5m on energy costs by The resort swept the board in and giving us a competitive, in Luton and all the associated
using sun, water and wind the first World Travel `Green’ business edge while at the health benefits this will give.
sources for its energy Awards last month October, same time saving the planet. “Compared to many other
requirements. picking up trophies for `Europe’s Until the tourism industry countries, England has a limited
Every aspect of energy is Leading Green Resort’ and the embraces being green as part number of 50 metre pools and
driven by solar resources and `World’s Leading Green Resort’. of its business plan, instead of international diving facilities and
the resort has already attracted Graham Cooke, Founder and simply applying `green wash’ so the new pool will form a most
pool specialists from the UK and President of World Travel to its marketing, we cannot welcome aquatic facility for the
the United States. Said a Awards said: “This was our first even begin to achieve east of England.”
spokesman: “I think people who Green Awards and clearly sustainable tourism.”
14 swimming pool news DECEMBER 08 Digital edition available at www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
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