Water Use: Lawn vs. Swimming Pool
pool and a lawn side by side water use

Most studies agree that lawns use more than twice as much water as a pool. By adding decks around the pool and using a pool cover the water savings are substantial.  The initial filling of a pool is when most of the water is used.

In a worst case scenario, if rationing was instituted and pools were not allowed to be filled using homeowners water, we could truck in potable water. The cost to fill the average pool would be in the area of +/- $1,200.00 depending on the size. For remodeled pools, we can also use large water bladders and store the existing water for reuse in the remodeled pool.

Source:
Penzella, Paul. “Drought: A Crisis for California”
Los Angeles News Group 2014: 36-37. Print.