How the Pool Industry Can Lead in Water Conservation – Terry Arko

The way we treat pool water is changing fast, and for good reason. Drought cycles, shrinking reservoirs, and tighter local rules are pushing the industry to prove it can deliver joy and safety while using far less water. We brought water expert Terry Arko back to chart a practical, field-tested path: smarter filtration, measured backwashing, proactive partial drains, and chemistry that prevents waste before it starts.We start with the history many of us lived through—hosing decks, routine backwashes, full drains every few years—and track how modern droughts shifted the spotlight onto pools. Terry breaks down why a well-managed pool can actually use less water than the lawn it replaces, and how data helped the industry push back on blanket building bans. From there, we dive into the nuts and bolts: when to backwash based on pressure rise, why cartridges and multi-cyclone pre-filters extend cleaning intervals, and how recovery systems and RO trailers in hard-water regions preserve up to 90% of the water while resetting hardness, chloramines, and phosphates.We also unpack a huge mindset shift—stop waiting for a crisis drain. Planned, partial water exchanges keep TDS and calcium in check and protect plaster, equipment, and budgets. On the chemistry side, we explore how overusing trichlor drives CYA up, forces higher chlorine demand, and speeds toward avoidable drains. Terry clarifies the softened water myth too: softeners don’t lower TDS, so balanced, softened fills can be safe and smart in hard-water markets. Add in smaller pool volumes where required and you get a blueprint that scales from a single backyard to millions of vessels nationwide.• drought pressure shifting rules toward pools• pools versus lawns on total water use• new backwash standards and why they matter• cartridge filters and pre-filters to cut waste• recovery systems, ion exchange and RO trailers• proactive partial drains to refresh water• managing CYA, chlorine demand and TDS• softened water myths versus TDS reality• smaller pools and build restrictions• stewardship mindset that protects the industrySend us Fan MailSupport the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors! HASA https://bit.ly/HASAThe Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days:https://getskimmer.com/poolguy Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBAPool Guy Coaching: https://bit.ly/40wFE6ySupport the showThanks for listening, and I hope you find the Podcast helpful! For other free resources to further help you:Visit my Website: https://www.swimmingpoollearning.comWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SPLPodcast Site: https://the-pool-guy-podcast-show.onpodium.com/UPA General Liability Insurance Application: https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBAPool Guy Coaching GroupJoin an exclusive network of Pool Service Technicians to access the industry’s leading commercial general liability insurance program. Protect your business.Premium is $64 per month per member (additional $40 for employees and ICs)$59 per month for Pool Guy coaching Members - join here! https://www.patreon.com/poolguycoachingLimits are $1,000,000 in occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate - Per member limits     [ $1,000,000 per occurrence and $4,000,000 aggregate available for $75 per month ]$50,000 in HazMat Coverage - clean up on-site or over-the-roadAcid Wash Coverage - Full Limits