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Tips for San Diego pool owners during the drought

As the drought in California continues, the San Diego County Water Authority has issued the "Water Shortage and Drought Response Plan." Pool owners in the area should consider adopting a few measures to ensure that they don't use water when it isn't necessary.

Check for leaks
The SDCWA states that San Diego is currently on drought alert. One of the requirements is that all leaks need to be repaired within 72 hours. Start by checking your pool for leaks. According to H2Ouse, a inch-sized leak in a 15-by-30-foot pool can waste about 102,000 gallons of water per year, which would be equal to just under 280 gallons per day.

Aqua Magazine suggests that owners fill a container with water and place it on the first or second step of your pool. Mark the water level on a bucket with tape or marker. Let it stay there for 24 hours and return to check if the water has dropped below the mark. If it has, you've found a crack or leak and need to call your local San Diego pool service immediately to fix the problem.

Other helpful tips
Stop backwashing. H2Ouse stated that the average backwash can waste 250 to 1,000 gallons of water. Instead, manually clean your pool filters. Some can be disassembled to allow for easier cleaning. If you don't know what to do, ask your San Diego pool service for assistance.

When taking care of your pool, try to retain as much water as possible. Plug the overflow line when using your pool. Also, if you do need to add water, supervise the process so you don't add too much.

Another helpful tip is to always keep chemicals at the correct level and turn on your filter every morning. Aqua Magazine suggests keeping your pool's phosphate level low because high levels result in water quality problems. Those steps will keep your pool clean and prevent the need to add or dispose of water. If you have a San Diego pool service to maintain chemical levels, they'll know what to do.

If you have extra pool features, turn off or reduce the temperature of your pool's heater. Warmer water evaporates more quickly. Shut down power to any water accessories like fountains or waterfalls because the aeration of water also causes evaporation.