Swimming Pool Size

I am a volunteer in my community. We live in a large development with two "villages." The second village will have a pool installed this summer. The pool will be about 3500 gallons. We are now considering a pool in village 1. I am trying to figure out how big the pool should be so that I can provide input to our committee. The community as a whole has about 1600 single family homes and residences. In my opinion the 3500 gallon pool is really small. It supposedly has a max capacity of about 175 (including the pool deck). Do any of you have a reasonable estimate of pool size compared to resident population?

Our pool is around 30,000 gallons, for a community of 313 homes. It's waaaaaaaaay to small. It's probably closer to the size that an individual homeowner would put in their own back yard.

John also pool size is also related to whether or not you have to have lifeguards (at least in my area) when our original pool was installed it was larger than it is now as the community was supposed to be twice as large. When the developer scaled back they re-did the pool making it so a lifeguard wasn't required.

JohnS17,

If you intended to write a 35,000 gallon pool, even that's way too small.

Years ago, the private pool that I had in my back yard was about 35,000 gallons, and it's about family size. Cartainly, no where big enough for a community of 1600 homes!

To help you figure it out, here are some conversion factors:

1 gallon of water = 0.13368 cubic feet, or

1 cubic foot of water = 7.48 gallons

Using these conversion factors, you can see that a 35,000 gallon pool would be about 4,680 cubic feet. That gives you a pool that is about 50 feet long, and 15 feet wide, with an average depth of 6.24 feet (about 4 feet at the shallow end tapering to 8 feet at the deep end). As you can see, that's family size, but not at all big enough for a community pool.

You probably want a pool that's between 120,000 and 180,000 gallons.

JohnS17,

I know (as, I’m sure others do) that your community is extremely large (1600 residence). However, I’m certain there are cities or county ordinances in Utah, which will ultimately have an effect on the size pool you have constructed also. I too, would suggestion reviewing those to help determine its size.

The larger the pool is, “if you built it they will come”, the more it will cost the association to maintain it,,,,properly. It will also cost the association (and its members) additional funds “IF” a lifeguard is required. Chemicals, service contract, tables, chairs, umbrella, umbrella stands, water and lighting expenses will need to be budgeted, annually. Unfortunately, the majority of these expenses CAN’T be avoided, regardless of its size.

Keep in mind NOT all 1600 residents are going to be using (occupancy laws, lack of interest and various life styles) just ONE pool. Cost to properly maintain this pool will greatly influence it size. Although it will be extremely difficult to restrict the amount of people that use the pool or just “hanging out” on the deck (at any given time/day) regardless of its size, but the size will certainly help regulate capacity. As the ole saying goes “you can’t stuff 5 pounds of baloney in a 3 pound bag”, same difference.

I personally would construct the new pool to accommodate the people that reside in “village-2”. You already have one pool, correct? (That has been sufficient for the ENTIRE community, thus far. The newly constructed pool will ultimately, help to relief any over crowding at "village-1" pool.

Is your association Mandatory or Voluntary? What are your assessments and when are they due, monthly, quarterly or annually? Answering these questions will help me and others to provide you with additional information.

Keep us post and best of luck.

Chuck W