Swimming Pools - A Brief History
Swimming pools have been around for centuries. Some of the earliest pools can be dated back to more than 5000 years in the past. A settlement has been found in Pakistan that has a 'pool' with a capacity of around 200,000 litres. This is known as 'The Great Baths Of Mohenjo Daro'.
When people think of swimming pools in ancient times, then the Romans often come to mind. Even the ancient Greeks built bathing houses that were essentially ancient pools. Some of these ancient pools even came with heating. Furnaces that were located in basements underneath the pool gently heated the pool till it was warm and comfortable to use.
When Did The Growth Of Private Pools Start?
Earlier, the costs associated with maintaining a swimming pool meant that a pool could either belong to the super-wealthy or be a public pool that everyone could use. By the 1800s, there were already indoor pools that were being built. These pools were used for swimming competitions.
However, these pools were also used rarely. This was as the costs associated with keeping the water clean and filtering the pool water were prohibitively high. Without filtering the pool water and keeping it clean, the pool water could be home to harmful diseases and pathogens.
By the end of the 1800s, people started to raise concerns regarding swimming pools. They pointed out that these were essentially large bodies of water that weren’t properly cared for. These pools were becoming home to harmful diseases and pathogens. As it turned out, they were right.
During this time, the swimming pool industry was limited by not being able to keep pools clean effectively. Later, in 1910, Brown University started to experiment with chlorine. They figured out that chlorine can be used to sanitise the water in a swimming pool. This was when home pools started to become popular.
Chlorine And The Growth Of Home Swimming Pools
When it was discovered that chlorine could sanitise the water in a swimming pool, home pools started to become more popular. This was because people were no longer worried about having to drain their pool. They also didn’t want to use excessive amounts of water, which was needed to have a pool that was crystal clear, by this time.
Since more people now had the option of bringing a pool home that they could maintain, they took advantage of it. People wanted to have a swimming pool in their backyards, where they could bathe privately. It was also much safer to bathe in a private pool with family and friends when compared to using a public pool that was full of strangers.
Innovations In The Swimming Pool Industry
When pool manufacturers knew that there was an established market for home pools, they started to focus on pool innovations. Swimming pools were improved such that owning a pool became an experience that people could actively enjoy.
By the 1950s, the pool skimmer system was invented. This is still being used today. It took some time for sand filters and cartridge filters to reach the state they are in today. They went through several iterations before reaching where they are today.
Another important innovation when it comes to swimming pools was the development of the saltwater chlorination system. With a saltwater pool, people could sanitise their pool without needing to add chlorine to their pool every week. Technology related to saltwater chlorination systems has largely remained the same. These days, innovators are focusing on improving the integration of pool pumps, power levels, timers, monitoring TDS, and more.
Swimming Pools In The Modern World
Have you ever found yourself thinking that maintaining a fibreglass pool is tough? Well, earlier, people had to drain the water in their pool and then refill it, except without the kind of commercial water pressure that is available today.
Take a look at how to clean a fibreglass pool!
You also don’t have to worry about pathogens swimming around in your fibreglass pool water. Maintaining pools has become much easier. Not only can you get a fibreglass pool that is of any shape and size that you desire, but maintaining it is easier as well. All the pool chemicals you need to keep your pool clean are readily available. In addition to this, your pool pump and filtration system play important roles in ensuring that the water in your pool is safe to swim in.
Automatic Pool Cleaners: Making Pool Maintenance Even Easier
Automatic pool cleaners were originally invented as early as the 1910s. But they gained popularity only after the mass production of home filtration systems, as well as pumping systems. Similar to saltwater chlorination, the essential idea behind automatic pool cleaners has remained unchanged.
Since its invention, only small improvements have been made to this device. Robotic pool cleaners, on the other hand, came only after massive leaps in pool cleaning technology were made. With a robotic pool cleaner, you can ensure that all of the surfaces of your pool are cleaned. These can also be purchased as stand-alone cleaning systems that aren’t dependent on your pool pump or the filtration system of the pool.
The Future Of Swimming Pools
The technology that’s used in swimming pools today is built on solid foundations. With the knowledge and technology available today, people can ensure that their pools are clean, with ease.
Where pool innovations were earlier around safety concerns, they are now focused on how easily pools can be maintained. You can choose to manually clean your pool yourself, or you can even hire someone to clean your pool. You can also consider making a one-time investment into upgrading your pool cleaning features. A robotic pool cleaner can effectively clean your pool without any intervention on your part. The future of swimming pools is currently focused on how people can enjoy their pools more, as well as pool maintenance features.
Here are twelve reasons why you should buy a fibreglass swimming pool!
Conclusion
Having a fibreglass pool in your backyard can be a great experience. With the technology available to you today, you can easily maintain your pool without breaking a sweat. But this wasn’t always the case. Use this guide to learn more about the history of swimming pools, and how they developed through the ages.
