Calif. pool, hot tub filling bans have industries steaming
By Nicholas Weiler, San Jose Mercury News
It’s hard to imagine a California summer without long days lounging by the pool. But as unprecedented drought sears the state, the backyard swimming pool has become a target for cities desperate to save water.
As cities and water districts put the squeeze on water users, even pool lovers are canceling construction contracts. Pool builders are steamed, accusing water officials of stressing symbolism over science. And contractors are getting increasingly creative in finding sources of water for pools that cities won’t fill.
The new restrictions — largely the result of Gov. Jerry Brown’s order to cut water use 25 percent statewide — have become a nightmare for pool builders and hot tub retailers.
This not a new issue. Growing up in the 1960s in the North Bay area, I worked for a trucking contractor that was constantly filling up peoples pools when the cities could or would not allow treated water from city pipes to be in pools. Hot tubs were not that big a deal yet.
California has had dry periods occasionally for years, but not as bad as now.
The company also would haul 5000 gallons of water to private wells which were being pumped dry, and drain it into the well. The theory was that the new water would draw additional water to the well pump. Customers were absolutely convinced this was effective. And it was not cheap.
Of course the bigger change from the ’60s to now is the huge additional population using the water.
Developers should not be allowed to build and sell subdivisions for which they have not ensured a permanent source of water. There are rules out there with this requirement, but they have no teeth and enforcement is lax. County supervisors are easy marks for developers as we all know.