Swimming pools are great to help us beat the heat, but occasionally we may need to beat the leak! Pools can leak constantly or may only leak when the pool equipment is running. This can lead to water waste and a high water bill, and with pools being one of the greatest water users outdoors, it’s important to make sure they are being operated as efficiently as possible.

Leaks in your pool system may be difficult to find, even if you have used your meter to check for leaks*, for one of two reasons. First, if you have an autofill device, it will continue to keep the pool’s water level the same by adding water on a more frequent intermittent basis. Second, if you fill the pool yourself with a hose, you may not notice that you are adding water on a more frequent basis.

First, Look for visible leaks:

Most leaks associated with the pool are found in the pool equipment. Periodically turn the pool equipment on and look for visible leaks. Look for white crusty mineral deposits on pipes which could indicate a slow leak. Also, look for wet spots on the ground around the pool, pool equipment, and between the equipment and the pool.

Next, Do a Bucket Test to see if there are Non-visible Leaks:

You can read the instructions below or watch: How to Video for the Bucket Test

1. The bucket test is simple. Let’s get started by collecting a couple of items. You’ll want a bucket and a wax pen. Stop manually adding water to the pool or turn off the water to the pool’s autofill until the test is complete.
2. “What is an autofill?” It is a device that fills your pool with water automatically. As with skimmer baskets, autofills are typically located next to the pool inside a recessed container beneath a round lid.
3. If you have an autofill, let’s turn off its water supply. Find the pool’s backflow device which is usually located at the back or the side of the house. The pool’s water supply line is usually the first line out of the pool’s backflow. Turn its shut-off valve to the off position.
4. Also, no splashing water out of the pool during the bucket test.
5. Place a bucket or container on a pool step without submerging it, and then fill it with water so it is the same level with the pool water. Use a wax marker to mark the level of the water in the pool and the level of the water in the bucket.
6. Wait a minimum of two to three days to let natural evaporation occur. If it rains or it’s a windy day you may have to redo the test. If the water level in the pool has dropped more than the level in the bucket, you have a leak. If both the levels go down but are the same in the pool and in the bucket, then you do not have a leak.
7. If you have a leak, you can do a little more testing to indicate whether leak is in the pool structure or the plumbing system.

• Repeat the test with the pool equipment running.
• Repeat the test with the pool equipment manually turned off so it can’t run.

If tests reveal that more water was lost with the pool equipment running, the pool’s plumbing is probably the cause.

* Not Sure How to Use Your Meter to Check for Leaks?

If you have a high water bill and you’re not sure if it’s the pool or something else on your property, start your search by using your water meter as a leak detection device. Watch our How to Read Your Meter video!

Note: If you live in Phoenix, your meter reads in cubic feet. One cubic foot equals 0.748 gallons. So, if you determined that 100 cubic feet were used during a meter test, then 74.8 gallons was used.  All you have to do is multiply the cubic feet by 0.748.

Scottsdale is one of fifteen Water – Use It Wisely regional partners who offer conservation assistance to water customers. Contact your local water conservation office.

What is a traditional spray nozzle, you ask? In a nutshell, it’s any nozzle that delivers small water droplets quickly and in a fan shaped pattern. Due to the high flow of water coming out of traditional spray nozzles (almost 2 gallons per minute, 15’ half-circle), many aging sprinkler pipes get mineral buildup and can no longer provide the needed pressure to deliver water evenly between the originally designed head-to-head spacing. Most homeowners try to solve this issue by simply increasing run-times until the brown spots disappear. However, while this solution may improve the look of the site, it results in a tremendous increase in water consumption, with some areas getting a lot more water than needed, which is both costly and environmentally unfriendly.

Homeowners can take a cue from landscape professionals, who have learned to rely on multi-stream rotating sprinkler heads, such as the Hunter MP Rotator. The MP Rotator features a unique, multi-trajectory rotating stream delivery system that achieves water-conserving results. Rather than simply “spray” water onto landscapes, MP Rotators deliver multiple streams of water at a slow, steady rate. The reduction in flow will boost system pressure allowing the MP Rotator’s multi-stream “moving fingers” to achieve previously compromised head-to-head spacing.

This is what makes MP’s perfect for revitalizing older systems—the retrofit can solve both low pressure and poor coverage problems. The MP Rotator can be installed onto any conventional spray head body transforming them into high uniformity, low precipitation rate sprinklers. But be careful. Because the MP Rotator has a much lower flow rate (1/2 gallon per minute, 15’ half-circle) compared to a traditional spray nozzle, a complete removal of ALL traditional spray nozzles on a single valve (station) must be done. By mixing MP Rotators & traditional spray nozzles on a single valve (station), an already inefficient system will only become worse.

Another added benefit is the MP Rotator’s compatibility with Arizona soil absorption rates.  Most Arizona landscapes consist of clay soil profiles capable of absorbing only a ½” or less of water per hour. In Water – Use It Wisely’s 100+ Ways to Conserve, # 18 states If water runs off your lawn easily, split your watering time into shorter periods to allow for better absorption. That’s because most traditional spray nozzles deliver water at flows 100-200% faster than what Arizona soils can absorb.  Due to the MP Rotators “Slow-the-Flow” nature, it delivers water to your landscape at a much slower rate therefore minimizing or eliminating unnecessary run-off. This slower application rate allows water to gently soak into the soil, and achieves an even distribution throughout the area being irrigated. This increased efficiency results in 30% less water use when compared to traditional sprays, and significantly reduces wasteful runoff.

MP Rotators are also a great choice for new systems, as they provide immense range, flexibility and provide better system efficiency.

From time to time, WUIW features guest bloggers who write about water conservation and education. Danny Motylewski from Hunter Industries is our guest blogger this week. Hunter Industries is committed to research and development efforts centered on innovative solutions that save water, and they always have been. Moving forward, their focus towards water and energy conservation will continue every day.

In a tough economy, one way to stay ahead of the competition is to stay up-to-date on the latest trends, research, and practices in the industry for which you work. For the landscaping business, this is especially true. As the housing market remains stalled, new landscape installations and maintenance accounts are often hard to come by, and competition for customers is fierce. Therefore, programs that provide continuing education and training—especially at an affordable price—are all the more important and relevant for businesses today.

Enter Smartscape: A training program for landscape professionals
Sponsored by the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (a Water – Use It Wisely partner) and the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension in Maricopa County, Smartscape is a green jobs training program providing 20 hours of instruction on the proper irrigation and care for water-efficient landscapes in the Sonoran Desert.

Over the eight Smartscape sessions, instructors from the University of Arizona, municipal water departments, and the landscape industry present the latest research-based information regarding sustainable landscaping practices.

“We find the Smartscape program provides the updated training our employees need to keep our customers informed, as well as keeping us leaps and bounds ahead of the competition,” states Jill Gilbert, Customer Relations Manager for AZ Royal Landscaping and Design.

Smartscape professionals promote sustainable practices
Instruction on sustainable landscaping practices can help companies cut back on clients’ water use, where up to 70% of a residential water bill is devoted to outdoor uses such as landscapes and pools. By helping reduce outdoor water consumption, Smartscape graduates help homeowners save where it counts—in their wallet.

In addition, Smartscape attendees are trained on the fundamentals of designing, installing, and maintaining low-water-use landscapes compatible with our desert environment. Using landscape plants that are adapted to the climate and soils of the Sonoran Desert can make for a lower maintenance yard, which saves clients valuable time and energy.

“Smartscape is a comprehensive program, packed with useful information, taught by an all-star team of Valley landscape professionals, in a format anyone can understand, and built around our typical work schedule,” says Bryan Wallace, Vice President of Operations at Victor’s Landscaping Inc. and a Smartscape Certified Professional.

Online directory connects graduates to customers
To help Smartscape professionals market their training, graduates have the option to be included in the Smartscape Certified Professional Online Directory, found at http://www.amwua.org/ss_directory.html. The Online Directory allows homeowners to find a Smartscape Certified Professional in their area. As more homeowners want to save money and time in their yard, businesses and individuals who market their Smartscape training have another “leg up” on the competition.

Next class starts this month
The next Smartscape course will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 3:30-6:00 P.M., January 23- February 15, 2012. All classes will be held at the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension in Maricopa County, 4341 E. Broadway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85040. The registration fee for the entire series is $75.00. Please contact Haley Paul at smartscape@cals.arizona.edu or (602) 827-8200 x395 if you are a landscape professional interested in taking the course or sending your employees to the course. Also visit the Smartscape website to download and print a registration flyer: http://extension.arizona.edu/maricopa/smartscape-program.

Find Smartscape on Facebookand Twitter too!

From time to time, WUIW features guest bloggers who write about water conservation and education. Haley Paul is our guest blogger this week. Smartscape is co-sponsored by AMWUA, a WUIW partner.

Here is his interview on “Your Life A to Z” on local Channel 3 where you can learn more:

Stay tuned for the next segment of Water – Use It Wisely on TV!

Watch her interview on “Your Life A to Z” on local Channel 3 here:

Stay tuned for the next segment of Water – Use It Wisely on TV!

Don’t forget to take the Online Home Water Challenge! It’s a great how-to video on how to look for leaks and fix them, as well as other water saving tips and tricks.

Stay tuned for our next segment “Fall Planting with Color”!

Desert Willow Trees are native to the Sonoran Desert.

There are hundreds of beautiful desert plants to choose from but one of the biggest challenges of purchasing desert plants (especially since many are Sonoran Desert natives) is that some don’t look great in the pot at the nursery. You really have to have faith and know that the wispy stems in the container will be like the ‘ugly duckling that turns into a swan’ once planted in your landscape.

That’s why we suggest visiting a Xeriscape Demonstration Garden for plant selection ideas. It’s amazing how different plants look when they’re established in the landscape. Best of all, demonstration gardens give you a good idea of how large a plant can get so that you’re sure to put the right plant in the right place. You’ll also find design ideas and great examples of plant combinations.

Brand new xeriscape demonstration garden in Paradise Valley

One of our Water – Use It Wisely Partners, Arizona American Water, is pleased to showcase a new Xeriscape Demonstration Garden in Paradise Valley located at 6229 N. Mockingbird Lane. The Company planned the garden with neighbors, town council members, and Master Gardeners and turned an unused site into a fabulous demonstration for low-water use plants, Xeriscape principals and how to save water and money.

Arizona American Water is one of fifteen Water – Use It Wisely regional partners and many of them sponsor beautiful demonstration gardens. Get inspired. Find a Xeriscape Demonstration Garden near you!

Smartscape prepares students with the essential skills to plan, create, and care for low-water-use landscapes and plants. Taught by experts in the green industry, Smartscape delivers 20 hours of high-quality education on the best irrigation and horticultural practices for the desert southwest. For just $60, students receive a Smartscape manual with valuable materials, instruction from experts in green industry, and snacks and refreshments. Landscape companies send their crew members to Smartscape to receive training at an affordable price. “I will always send my employees to this class,” one Smartscape graduate noted.

Upon completion of the course, graduates receive two Smartscape logo decals, a lapel pin, a certificate of completion, and a chance to market themselves as a Smartscape professional by listing their contact information in the Smartscape online directory. This directory is a great resource for homeowners who are looking to hire knowledgeable and trained landscape professionals.

Registration for the Fall 2011 Smartscape series is now open. Download and print the registration form or contact Haley Paul, Smartscape Program Coordinator, at hepaul@cals.arizona.edu or (602) 827-8200 x395 with any questions.

“This impressive display illustrates the need for all of us to be more aware of how much water each of us uses on a daily basis,” Mesa Conservation Specialist Donna DiFrancesco said. “We hope this urges our customers to be responsible in their water usage to protect this valuable resource.”

Typical residential water usage in Mesa ranges from 80 to 180 gallons of water per person per day, including indoor and outdoor use. Water use is broken down in the following categories:

• Consumption – 6 gallons
• Showers and Baths – 16 gallons
• Toilets – 18 gallons
• Household Cleaning – 22 gallons
• Outdoors – 74 gallons

The campaign recently introduced the Home Water Challenge, an educational video that provides water conservation information, tips and helpful links that show how to conserve water in and around your home. Find it on our site by clicking here.

Participants can then input their monthly water use from their utility bill into a worksheet to see how their own water use stacks up to the average.

The water jug pyramid will be on display in Mesa through the month of August. If you miss the Mesa showing … don’t worry. You’ll be able to catch it on tour in the City of Chandler for September 2011.

Water – Use It Wisely Regional Campaign Partners include the cities of Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler, Glendale, Tempe, Avondale, Fountain Hills, Peoria, Surprise, and Queen Creek. Additional partners include the Arizona American Water Company, Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, Global Water Resources and Salt River Project.

I Even got a “Nice job,” attaboy from the calculator for our water footprint. It says we use around 57,917 gallons per year. That still seems like a lot, so I guess I’ve got more work to do.

How do you compare? Take the challenge now. It only takes a minute or so, and you’ll be surprised at what you learn.

Here are a 100+ ways to save.