Spiralling energy costs are hitting public pools hard, Gaffey reports…
UK swimming pools are now facing the perfect storm: Massive increases in energy and chemical supplies. Spurred by the war in Ukraine, energy prices have risen by more than 150%. Heating and pool water treatment or simply keeping the lights on are becoming much more expensive, as operating costs soar. As a result, many public pools are restricting opening hours and bather numbers or closing completely.
The government was warned that up to 79% of public leisure facilities are “likely” or “extremely likely” to cease operations within the next six months without extra financial support. Swim England was one of many predicting that price hikes, service reductions and pool closures are on the horizon. The government’s recent response – the Energy Bill Relief Scheme introduced in September 2022 – is proving inadequate.
Despite the price cap, one pool saw its annual energy costs rise from ÂŁ180,000 in 2019 to more than ÂŁ600,000 by October 2022. Its owner told Swim England that it had already had to temporarily close two pools. Meanwhile, the chlorine crisis continues, with the cost of chlorine liquids, tablets and powders more than doubling in the last two years. Brexit, lower production in China, US factory fires, Biocidal Product Regulation restrictions, the Ukraine conflict again; all this means chlorine is in relatively short supply and priced accordingly. Leaving many UK pools facing closure.
LOW COST
As pool managers search for ways to save money and reliably source chlorine, electrochlorination is the logical solution. Gaffey’s Hyprolyser® electrochlorination systems generate sodium hypochlorite solution – on site and on demand – using electrolysis. The only things these systems require to deliver dependable chlorination are harmless salts, water and electricity.
These salts are not rare nor expensive. Just like the UK-manufactured Hyprolyser®, they are readily available in the UK at prices comparably much lower than alternative commodity chlorine-based chemicals. The cost to generate sodium hypochlorite on site remains an attractive and secure method to operators chlorinating their swimming pools.
This means that, as well as being quick and easy to install, Gaffey’s Hyprolyser® electrochlorination systems are also significantly cheaper to run than other chlorine dosing systems. With no hazardous chemicals to transport or store, Hyprolyser® is a safer, cleaner and sustainable way to keep water clean and can handle any pool size, from a small spa to large leisure centres or theme parks with multiple pools and water features.
Gaffey
Tel. 01254 350180
E. info@gaffey.co.uk
www.gaffey.co.uk
