Ack, I need a drink! (Phoenix: house, neighborhood, gated communities)

[crystalblue]

What happens when the water runs out?

Whats being done about it?

[AksarbeN]

That’s a very good question, and I think we need to get a cold beer and talk about it!

Actually things do need to be done to conserve more water. New laws prohibiting the unnecessary waste it should be considered. The City of Phoenix prohibits water running off your property and into the street. Things like watering lawns or backflushing a pool is against city code.

I believe grass yards should be grandfathered and no new ones added is a good start. Also individual pools would cut down on evaporation and the replacement of water to keep them filled is another conserving way to save water. Many gated communities have neighborhood pools instead of each homeowner and that’s a good move.

Washing cars in the driveway is another loss of water, when there are car washes that recycle their water and thus a savings there.

Now back to the cold beer!

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by AksarbeN

Things like watering lawns or backflushing a pool is against city code.

Regarding backflushing, what is the alternative? I feel a little guilty about doing it, generally do it at night so it's not obvious, and do it as little as possible, but still I can't figure out how to maintain a pool without ever backflushing. Any ideas?

[AksarbeN]

Good question and the city of Phoenix website has an answer. http://phoenix.gov/WATER/pooldrn.html
I guess it’s called back washing instead of backflushing.

If you don’t use the drain at the house to carry the water into the sewer, then the best idea was to allow you to water trees, grass, bushes etc. Actually that would be the first choice (yard watering) of what to do with the water and second choice is to use the drain. When viewing the webpage you can see several options for drain use.

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by AksarbeN

Good question and the city of Phoenix website has an answer. http://phoenix.gov/WATER/pooldrn.html
I guess it’s called back washing instead of backflushing.

If you don’t use the drain at the house to carry the water into the sewer, then the best idea was to allow you to water trees, grass, bushes etc. Actually that would be the first choice (yard watering) of what to do with the water and second choice is to use the drain. When viewing the webpage you can see several options for drain use.

Thanks. I'll look into these options.

[AksarbeN]

One of the neighbor has a pool and when he back washes he uses an extra long hose to run water from the back of the house out to the front. He can water he’s trees and several large bushes with one back wash. The water he used from the pool is replaced but he doesn’t have to use extra water to feed the trees and he saves water from running in the street.

[ablex21]

Use a cartridge filter? No backwashing at all. That's what I have. You have to clean them twice a year and that's it. Used to have sand and it was a waste throwing all that water away every week or two. My pool is crystal clear too.

[silverbear]

More good suggestions. Thanks very much.