65% of Pools Leak Within 15 Years, Draining Hill Country Aquifer

Hill Country Pool Leaks Can Waste 15,000 Gallons a Year During Stage 3 Drought

Austin, United States – May 11, 2026 / Austin Pool Leak Detection /

With the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District operating under only its second-ever Stage 3 Exceptional Drought warning – and district leaders stating that an unprecedented Stage 4, along with the severe water use restrictions it would trigger, remains a real possibility – a Central Texas pool leak detection specialist is drawing attention to a frequently overlooked source of water loss: leaks in residential swimming pools.

Industry data indicates that approximately 65% of pools develop leaks within their first fifteen years. A single undetected leak can waste roughly 15,000 gallons of water annually – nearly enough to fill an average family pool twice. Many homeowners with leaking pools remain unaware of the problem, attributing rising water bills and the frequent need to add water to normal evaporation.

Hector Navarro, founder of Austin Pool Leak Detection and a certified Leaktronics specialist, explains, “A typical Texas summer might see a quarter of an inch of water disappear through evaporation each day. But we’ve found pools in Austin losing two inches a day.” He notes that homeowners effectively pay for that lost water twice – first on their water bill, and again as the escaping water damages patios, erodes soil, and accelerates equipment deterioration. During a drought of this severity, he adds, the broader community absorbs a third layer of cost.

After completing more than 238 pool leak detections in Austin and surrounding Hill Country communities, the company reports that each household saves an average of 15,000 gallons of water per year and sees water bills drop by 25% following a repair.

How Homeowners Can Spot a Hidden Pool Leak

Austin Pool Leak Detection is encouraging Central Texas homeowners to proactively check their pools rather than wait for visible damage to appear. The company outlines three at-home tests:

1. The Bucket Test: Place a five-gallon bucket in the pool, partially submerged, with the water inside filled to match the pool’s water level. Mark both levels. After 24 hours, compare how much each has dropped. If the pool’s water level has fallen more than the bucket’s, a leak is likely the cause – not evaporation.

2. Look at the Equipment Pad: Persistent damp patches, rust on equipment, or air bubbles rising from jets after the pump has been running can all indicate a leak in the plumbing.

3. Pay Attention to the Auto-Fill: An auto-fill system running daily, or a hose left running to maintain the water level, is a strong indicator of a leak. During peak summer heat in Central Texas, a properly sealed pool should require topping off only every five to seven days.

A Drought That Hits the Hill Country Hardest

While the City of Austin returned to a standard Conservation Stage in September 2025 after the Highland Lakes received additional inflow, conditions across the Hill Country remain significantly more stressed.

The Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District declared Stage 3 Exceptional Drought on September 12, 2025 – only the second such declaration in the district’s history.
District officials have publicly stated that Stage 4, which would mandate historic cutbacks in water use, remains possible if rainfall does not return.
Communities including Buda, San Marcos, New Braunfels, Lakeway, and Canyon Lake fall within both the affected region and Austin Pool Leak Detection’s service area.
Approximately 95% of Hill Country residents rely on groundwater as their primary drinking water source, making every gallon lost through a backyard pool leak a concern that extends beyond individual households.

“Most pool owners aren’t trying to waste water – they just don’t know they’re losing it,” Navarro said. “A pool can leak for years without an obvious sign. With the aquifer where it is right now, this is the year to find out.”

About Austin Pool Leak Detection

Austin Pool Leak Detection was founded by Hector Navarro, a certified Leaktronics specialist, following a difficult personal experience with a leak in his own pool. The company serves homeowners and property managers across Austin, Buda, New Braunfels, San Marcos, Lakeway, Canyon Lake, and the broader Central Texas region. Using sonar, pipe cameras, and hydrostatic testing, the team locates leaks in pools and spas without disturbing patios or landscaping, coordinates repairs through established local contractors, and guarantees results.

Learn more at austinpoolleakdetection.com.