RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. (KABC) -- The Santa Margarita Water District has passed an ordinance in an attempt to conserve water that could effectively ban new swimming pools.



The ordinance bans residents from filling new swimming pools or refilling existing pools by more than 1 foot of water. It comes as California struggles through its third year of drought.



"It was sort of a question of how do we tell one neighbor to make your grass go brown and save water that way, while your other neighbor is putting in 15,000 gallons worth of pool," said Jonathan Volzke, a spokesman for the Santa Margarita Water District.



The district, the second largest water agency in Orange County, serves more than 155,000 residents in Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita and unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Las Flores, Ladera Ranch and Talega.



Pools that began construction before the ordinance went into effect last month, however, are exempt.



"The biggest fear was they were actually going to stop us from building pools," said Cecil Fraser, who owns Swan Pools. "This will be very difficult on a lot of the smaller builders, as well as pool service companies, chemical companies, pool furniture companies."



Fraser's company has built 500 pools in the area. He recommends other changes to save water, such as requiring pool covers to reduce water evaporation. Pool covers can add up to about 4 feet of water a year - about the same amount grass uses to stay alive in a year.



Water district officials say they're open to Fraser's suggestion and insist they are working on changes to the ordinance before a board meeting on Sept. 19.



A possible change in the restrictions could allow permits to be issued if a pool, hardscape and deck altogether use less water than a traditional lawn, Volzke said.



"We're trying to find the equity where everyone can live the life they want to live, but with the recognition that we're in a very serious drought," Volzke said.



