I think no one should be able to fill a swimming pool, nor refill it, in such conditions [edit for clarity: drought or expected drought].
Farmed crops and animals, and other animals and wildlife, and drinking water for humans, are more important. Swimming pools don’t support those things and proportionally I think are simply not justifiable to take water for in such circumstances. If it’s not got extreme then save perhaps public pools before private.
Sorry, those of you who have pools or live by selling houses where pools are an asset.
I wouldn’t mind betting there could be some history with that farmer or his family and others, in the village, possibly going back generations, and he or his family may not be entirely in the wrong
I have to admit telling people they shouldn’t have pools is a bit OTT, a bit Stalinist, and has zero chance of success in my neck of the woods at least.
This isn’t a pool problem, it’s a water problem. Sensible precautions, as Corona suggested and a few sustainably powered desalination units should sort the Var out
No need to leave, some narrow views by a few shouldnt be the end of you posting. I have spent more than 20 years (prior to brexit) working on pools in France and tbe UK with a view to making them more sustainable. Running them on less than 10% of the electricity for a std setup, saving the precious water where I can and others are slowly catching on. Why dont the french put covers on the smaller resevoirs?? Thats water loss too and a lot can be done to make things far more sustainable. I must have put 6000ltrs of water into the water table via my well from the winter rains. If I or others really needed to the water in the pool could be drunk as it is of such a high quality.
This is an issue I see on forums from time to time . . . . .
I was going to post a longer reply but I won’t. But I’ll just make a couple of points - feel free to agree or disagree.
If I want tea and sympathy, I visit my granny. I am the apple of her eye and I can do no wrong.
Not so if I post something on the internet, however. I understand that not everyone will agree with me. To the point where if I ask a question, someone may have an issue with my question, let alone any answer provided to that question.
Three things are important regarding forums: (1) treat people with respect, (2) be tolerant of others, they may hold a completely different opinion - and they are fully entitled to do so, and (3) grow a thick skin, don’t be too quick to toss the toys out of your pram.
In this thread, I did not notice any disrespect. There was, however, a lack of tolerance shown to an earnestly expressed opinion and then an element of toys out of pram.
I mentioned earlier that this thread evoked the theme music of ‘Jean de Florette’. It has now been replaced by shades of ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ mixed with ‘Dam Busters’ . . . . . .
Be nice, people . . . .
As I said my views are not personal to you, but to the powers that be. While it is allowed then you can do what you wish. I just wish it wasn’t allowed as water is such a precious commodity now.
[Edited]Thread drift on here is normal and usually fun.
If you follow Corona’s advice, so as to avoid water loss, you’ll avoid imposing on resources when they are scarce as you won’t need to take precious ground water to refill it and can still use it.
[Edited] All I’m suggesting could be thought about is some temporary restraint on new fills or topups of pools, if at that time others in the community and environment - who might die for lack of water - need it.
Of course John Scully is right that desalination may be the next answer but till then…
There are issues about sharing and where lines should be drawn and other things. But my concern is that the comments you’ve made are eloquent as to the interests of users of swimming pools only. Others mentioned emerging conflicting wider needs of others and the environment.
Yes, please do. If you must disagree, and let’s face it life would be boring without people having differing opinions, please be polite about it and stop the name calling.
I wish the ignorant powers at be wised up and insisted on regulatory changes that make a difference such as the ones I have mentioned which I have used on a number of pools in France and the UK and some colleagues around the world but France cares more about Men wearing inappropriate speedos at the pools than saving water and energy.
If a pool is given permission to be built/put in place/whatever… it is necessary to test it for possible leaks/bad-construction/whatever… and it is for this reason that permission to fill a new pool is given, if it is possible.
@robwebber has been told he can fill his pool… following the official guidelines laid down…
@KarenLot and @robwebber - please edit your posts where you have personally attacked each other. This breaches our T&C. If you fail to do so and continue to post your membership will be rescinded. Thanks.
A poster, unusually for SF, started calling people names and saying they were unworthy people when all they’d done was politely express a different point of view.
I know that since a lot of people here came out to France for a lifestyle that happens to include a pool, my comment suggesting not filling up or topping up swimming pools in a drought wouldn’t have been popular with a lot of people here whether they speak up or not. I knew that when I made the comment. But the reaction to my comment and to at least one other person’s was totally out of proportion and unfortunately I was more frank than I should have been about the impression the poster was giving.
I’m glad the poster got the answers he wanted though and wish them well especially if they are able to follow Corona’s advice. If more people did, then pools would be managed as best possible with great advantage to all.
Guys - there’s a phrase someone good at helping people once said to me. “If the advice you want to offer is like a 10 ton truck, make sure the bridge between you isn’t just a 1 ton bridge”.
We’re all free to express ourselves and many of us want to change the world one way or another, but sometimes the change we want can’t be expressed directly unless the recipient will trust and listen to us. It may be necessary to break our message down into lighter chunks, to get any of it across.
