How the Pool Industry Can Lead in Water Conservation – Terry Arko

Water scarcity no longer sits on a far horizon for pool owners and service pros; it is here and shaping how we build, filter, and maintain pools. The old habits—hosing decks, routine backwashing, and full drains every few years—made sense when water felt endless. Today, drought cycles, stressed aquifers, and stricter municipal policies put pools under a spotlight. The good news is that pools can be part of the solution. With smart filtration choices, measured chemistry, and a mindset shift from water as commodity to water as asset, we can protect clarity, protect budgets, and protect a resource that keeps getting tighter. This episode traces the evolution from 1970s practices to present-day stewardship, and it offers a practical roadmap any operator can follow.

History explains how we got here. During earlier droughts, restrictions focused on lawns and outdoor watering schedules, not pools. That changed after California’s severe 2012–2016 drought, when policymakers questioned new pool builds and fill-ups. Industry advocates responded with data: a properly covered pool can use less water than the lawn it replaces. Yet scrutiny remains, and more regions now limit pool size or set conservation rules. The takeaway is not fear; it is readiness. Pool pros win by showing measurable savings, educating clients, and adopting equipment and routines that cut waste without compromising safety or beauty. When we demonstrate responsible operations, we defend access and build trust with regulators and customers alike.

Filtration is the fastest lever for conservation. Sand and DE systems require backwashing that can dump hundreds of gallons per cycle. Standards now urge backwashing only when pressure rises 8 to 10 psi, not on a timer or habit. Cartridges reduce backwashing altogether and, when paired with pre-filters like multi-cyclone units, capture heavy debris before it reaches the media. That combo extends cleaning intervals, preserves flow, and saves thousands of gallons annually on a busy route. For sites in high-calcium regions, mobile ion exchange and reverse osmosis trailers can strip hardness, chloramines, and phosphates while retaining 80–90% of the water. The result is softer, more stable water with a fraction of the loss of a full drain.

Beyond gear, rethink “drain and acid wash” as a default. Proactive, partial water exchanges—planned and small—refresh water quality without the shock and waste of a full drain. Consistent dilution keeps TDS, calcium, and byproducts in check, helping surfaces last longer and chemistry stay predictable. Pair that with disciplined backwash decisions and you attack waste from two sides: avoiding unnecessary discharge and avoiding the chemistry spirals that force drastic measures later. Builders can help too by embracing smaller pool volumes where allowed, integrating recovery systems, and specifying covers and windbreaks that curb evaporation.

Chemistry management is conservation. Over-reliance on trichlor drives cyanuric acid up, which demands more chlorine, adds byproducts, and accelerates TDS creep. That path shortens the time between corrective drains. A balanced program—right-sized CYA, appropriate free chlorine targets, steady pH and alkalinity—prevents algae blooms that gulp chlorine and trigger cleanups and partial drains. On source water, bust the myth that softened water is inherently corrosive. Softened water still carries TDS, unlike naturally soft low-TDS water, so it does not create extreme corrosiveness when balanced. Used wisely, a softener can be a helpful tool in hard-water markets.

Stewardship scales. Ten million residential pools plus commercial sites means small savings per vessel turn into massive gains for cities and watersheds. Think of water like money moving through your business. Every avoided backwash, every gallon recovered, every algae bloom prevented is profit returned to the system. By treating water as a precious asset—and proving it with data and practice—we extend the joy and health benefits of swimming while respecting a resource that is only getting more valuable. Conservation is not a constraint; it is the craft of modern pool care.