www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
Pool&SpaIndustry JUN 2012 SPN
31 CLARITY OUT OF CONFUSION
Managing Director Chris Hayes reflects on the work the BSPF has put in to fight for clarity over water restrictions
he only place to start this column is with the water restrictions that have recently come into force in some parts of the country and are in place until further notice. Our industry will want to play its part in water conservation measures and is generally supportive of the plight of the water companies. It has still been a shock to learn that not only were domestic customers going to be caught up in the Temporary Use Bans (TUBs) but they have restricted the work of businesses undertaking servicing and maintenance at domestic properties. The initial messages of the water restrictions, as they affect our industry, was communicated to the media by the water companies in their own press releases and public adverts. They were quick to promote that all domestic pools were
T
KEY DIARY DATES: BSi Meeting
JULY 3rd
10th
AUGUST 15th 16th
SEPTEMBER 7th - 9th 12th
SPATEX Board meeting PIP & BISHTA Committees
SPATA National Council and BSPF Board
President’s Weekend BISHTA Technical Committee
18th - 20th LIW 25th - 27th TC 402 Meeting
OCTOBER 8th - 9th
EUSA 12th - 14th Grand Designs Live, NEC
unable to be filled or topped up. Many of the water companies included hot tubs as being on the list of activities that could be prohibited from being filled or topped up. The inaccuracies of this initial media campaign led to concerns from both the industry and the domestic customers that they would not be able to enjoy their pools and hot tubs this year. The water companies have acknowledged their initial messages contained some inaccuracies and modifications have been made, including the drafting of a joint statement to clarify the situation that is being supported by all of the water companies involved. This joint statement was released to the media and the situation has greatly improved the understanding of what is and is not possible, and my thanks are due to Nick Ellins (Water UK) and Richard Aylard (Thames Water).”
The joint statement is reproduced in full and is included on the SPATA and BISHTA websites. The main messages are that although domestic swimming (and paddling) pools cannot be filled or topped up by any means, there are agreed exceptions for filling and maintaining a pool: • where necessary in the course of its construction;
• using a hand-held container filled with water drawn directly from a tap;
• that is designed, constructed or adapted for use in the course of a programme of medical treatment;
• that is used for the purpose of decontaminating animals from infections or disease;
• used in the course of veterinary treatment; • filling or maintaining a pool in which fish or other aquatic animals are being reared or kept in captivity.
Further advice on swimming pools is being offered that: • major refurbishment should be treated as equivalent to construction. Major alterations to shape or size, or to the immediate surroundings of the pool, repairs of significant leaks or the installation of a complete new liner would qualify in this category. Minor repairs, such as the replacement of tiles would not qualify.
• The restrictions on filling pools, except as specifically permitted, apply both to pool owners and to their agents or companies
providing a service, even where an existing service or maintenance contract is in place. For the avoidance of doubt, pools may be topped up by handheld containers filled directly from a tap. Owners should consider fitting pool covers to minimise evaporation and hence the need for topping up.
• Backwashing of swimming pool filters is not covered by these powers; it is the topping up of the pool to replace lost water that is covered. [UKWIR Code of Conduct Figure 5.6, page 42]
In terms of hot tubs and swim spas the advice is as follows: • The definition of ‘domestic swimming or paddling pool’ does not encompass hot tubs. The Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has made it clear that hot tubs are to be regarded as a bathing facility. As such, they are not covered by TUBs.
• Swim spas should be treated as swimming pools. This means that (unlike hot tubs) they are covered by the applicable TUB and Drought Order restrictions. The exemptions for filling where necessary during the course of construction (for pools) should be interpreted as allowing a swim spa to be filled once as part of the installation process.
The BSPF has arranged meetings with the relevant bodies to discuss the areas of concern that remain for our industry, which are: • The need for professional pool companies to be able to service and maintain pools to ensure adequate water levels for healthy water balance and to prevent costly repairs to equipment and the pool shell itself, which may become damaged if water levels become too low.
• The desire to revisit items included in the original Code of Practice as possible exceptions that have not been agreed in the first joint statement.
My sincere thanks go out to all of the SPATA and BISHTA members that have contacted me recently on this topic and especially to those that have been promoting our messages. A huge thank you is also due to Ross Alcock at ISPE for his close liaison with the BSPF to share ideas and to seek the best solution for our industry. spn
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