Swim school stays afloat with water saving tricks

Despite the severe drought and strict water restrictions, Flippers Swim School in Oxford Road manages to stay afloat and ensure that Observatory children are "water ready".

Nikki Britz, owner of Flippers, said that the Level 5 Water restrictions imposed by the City of Cape Town has not really affected the swim school.

She has installed a gutter system that collects rainwater and directs it into the pool. This method of collecting rainwater has been so successful that the pool has maintained its water level for the past six months.

Flipper's pool has a capacity of 50 000 litres, which Nikki managed to maintain since starting the business in Observatory seven years ago.

The pool area is also completely enclosed with an additional pool cover that goes over the pool when there are no lessons. Nikki said the coverage of the pool has greatly reduced the rate of evaporation. And because lessons are one-on-one, no water is lost due to splashing.

Nikki, who is a recreational open-water swimmer, also added that the pool is heated at 32 degrees Celsius via solar panels on her roof. She said the pool remains warm all year round and the children especially enjoy it.

Flippers offers lessons to local Obs children as well as kids from surrounding areas.

Even some elderly residents, parents and university students attend the swim lessons.

Nikki said it is always interesting teaching adults as many of them can't swim because they didn't have swimming lessons growing up or access to swimming pools. She said some students take lessons for fitness purposes.

The school has also been offering lessons to the children of Kiddies College, based at the Obs community centre. Nikki said the best part about their lessons, which takes place two mornings a week, is seeing the children socialize with each other.

Even local nannies that bring children for lessons enjoy sitting around the pool chatting.

Nikki said that swimming lessons are not only fun but also essential, especially for young kids as many pre-schools and primary schools require children to be water ready before attending the Grade 1.

Flippers Swim School is running a seven day Learn to Swim Crash course from 7 - 15 December (weekdays only). This is a great introduction to swimming, develop basic swimming skills and touch up on strokes.

All ages are welcome and costs from R500 per swimmer.