Let’s Pool Together Campaign Media Launch
The California Pool and Spa Association (CPSA) announced it has publicly launched its drought education campaign, “Let’s Pool Together.” As a partner of Save Our Water – a statewide program of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) aimed at helping Californians reduce their everyday water use – the Let’s Pool Together effort educates pool and spa owners and industry professionals about ways to maximize water efficiency this summer. The CPSA has been preparing campaign materials over the last few months.
The Let’s Pool Together campaign includes door hangers and bill stuffers for the pool service industry to communicate with homeowners and other customers, a website and social media effort and a paid media component to ensure pool owners from across the state learn water conservation techniques.
According to the CPSA, The Let’s Pool Together campaign is also designed to educate local water officials that pools and spas save water, and how imposing restrictions on building or refurbishing pools or spas will have an adverse effect on the economy without saving the region water.
“Many people assume pools and spas waste water, but that’s just not true,” said Mike Geremia, CPSA chairman and owner of Geremia Pools. “Because pools and spas often replace traditional lawns, which are very water intensive, every pool and spa actually saves thousands of gallons of water per year. Yet even with those water savings, we know there are steps pool and spa owners can take this summer to potentially save even more. That’s why we’re launching the Let’s Pool Together campaign—to ensure that pool and spa owners do their part during the drought.”
SJWC Restrictions on Pool Filling and Refilling Currently Voluntary
As part of current ongoing efforts to educate public policy makers and water districts across the state regarding the minimal use of water by swimming pools and spas as well as the many accompanied economic and health benefits, the CPSA has engaged in communications with the San Jose Water Company (SJWC) to discuss their recent adoption of water conservation rules that will remain in effect until December 31, 2014.
Included in the water reduction measures, which attempt to achieve a 20 percent conservation target, is a prohibition of filling or refilling swimming pools. However, the water conservation measures are a replicate of the California Public Utilities Commission’s Resolution W-4976, a resolution outlining drought procedures for water conservation, rationing, and service connection moratoria. Although they are currently nonbinding, recommended conservation rules that carry no fines or penalties, they can become mandatory if the stage of the drought is upgraded in the future.
California Public Utilities Commission adopted Resolution W-4976 this past February to provide the framework for mandatory water rationing if the drought fails to subside.
