Christina Favuzzi
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California’s drought is taking a toll on one of our local attractions. Hearst Castle is taking steps to conserve water.
”We’re looking forward to summer and thinking this is going to be a really bad summer so we really got to start our water conservation in earnest right now,” said Nick Franco, District Superintendent of the San Luis Obispo Coastal District.
The Neptune Pool normally holds 350,000 gallons of water, but it’s about three feet lower than usual.
“We’re draining the Neptune Pool for water conservation and to use that water for irrigation purposes,” Franco said. “California is in a drought. I think we all know that.”
Governor Brown’s declaration of a drought emergency has pushed funds and efforts forward to repurpose the water in Hearst Castle’s iconic pool.
The drain from the Neptune Pool hooks up to a series of hoses that feed water to the irrigation system which waters the plants and grounds.
Franco said they are making the best out of a bad situation.
Draining the pool will allow them to make repairs to the leaking pool.
“ Throughout the pool there are a number cracks and the membrane underneath the tile has failed so that’s really primarily where the leaking is occurring,” Franco said. “We’ll lose 3,000 to 5,000 gallons on a given day, up to 10,000 gallons in a day. We just can’t afford to lose that water right now.”
A conservator will clean the mineral buildup off the statues and marble, and the cracks in the pool floor will be repaired.
Whether it’s full or empty, the Neptune Pool remains open to visitors.
With rain in the forecast, Franco said they would refill the pool and postpone the repairs if we get a substantial amount of rain.