Drought Leading Growing Number Of Bay Area Homeowners To Ditch Backyard Swimming Pools
WALNUT CREEK (KPIX 5) – The built-in backyard swimming pool was once the epitome of suburban luxury. But now because of the drought and other factors, they are quickly becoming a thing of the past.
"The drought definitely played a part in it," said homeowner Jerry Casey of Walnut Creek.
Casey is one of a growing number of Bay Area pool owners who are pulling the plug. The time and the cost of maintenance, new restrictions on refilling pools, and the guilt of topping it off with drinking water were all factors.
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"Everything needs to move to a less water demanding landscape design. This is just one step in that direction," Casey told KPIX 5.
The turning point came from his real estate agent. "Having a pool does not add value to a house," Casey said.
It may seem counterintuitive, but it's the basis of a thriving new kind of business.
"We hate pools, we don't like pools and we take them out," said Zali Lorincz of ZLC Corporation.
Zali and Tisza Lorincz are a brother-sister team whose company specializes in pool removals. They demolish about 120 pools a year.
"The glory days of the pool are gone," Tisza Lorincz said.
She said removals can cost about $15,000. Most backyard pools were built in the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Instead of repair, owners would rather just fill them in.
"We do a lot of pool removals during that time when people are getting ready to sell their house, or they've just bought a house and they want to get it removed before they move in," Tisza Lorincz said.
Casey said his pool was the scene of many a high school pool party, but his girls are grown and moved away. The backyard now belongs to his dog, Madison, who will love all the new running room.
"We'll do a different type of backyard party in the future," Casey said.
