California Cities Keep Community Pools Open In Drought, Opting For Other Water Savings
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — California cities are taking long looks at community pools during the drought, with some making water-saving changes you may not see.
Keeping the pool filled means a lot of water added to maintain levels over the next few months, but the Sunrise Recreation and Park District has made small changes that could lead to big water savings in the long run.
Some of the outdoor shower heads have been capped, and waterless urinals are now the norm in the men's restroom.
"Since we've eliminated all the flushing of the urinals, one to two gallons, we're going to be saving you know a couple thousand gallons a day just from the restrooms alone," said district spokesman Dave Mitchell.
In Olivehurst, the pool almost didn't open because of budget issues and concern of criticism from filling up a 150,000 gallon swimming pool while residents are being asked to cut back.
Buth the community has used the pool for nearly 60 years, so in one week it will open. This year, though, all the backwash water used to clean it must be reused.
"What we're doing is basically taking the backwash water and putting it back into the park which would otherwise not get any irrigation due to the conservation requirements," said Olivehurst Public Utility District general manager Tim Shaw.
Back in Citrus Heights, the new water-saving measures don't appear to dampen anyone's fun, in fact people say it makes them want to come more often.
Parks and recreation managers say most of their water use is for turf irrigation, so many are choosing to cut back on watering grass rather than at their pools.