North Scottsdale Pool Water: What's in Your Fill Water?

🏜️ Where Does Your Pool Water Come From?

If you live in North Scottsdale, your pool’s water likely comes from one of several sources — each with its own natural chemistry:

• Municipal water (City of Scottsdale or EPCOR)
  • Central Arizona Project (CAP) water – Colorado River-derived
  • Salt River Project (SRP) surface water
• Private well water – especially in custom home communities

Understanding what’s in your source water is critical when starting up a new pool. The chemistry of fill water can dramatically impact how your plaster or pebble finish cures — and whether it lasts for years or gets ruined in the first 30 days.

💧 Source Water Chemistry: What to Expect

1. CAP Water (Colorado River via CAP Canal)

• Moderate to high total dissolved solids (TDS)
• High calcium hardness
• Slightly alkaline
• Can be scale-forming if not adjusted immediately

2. SRP Water (Salt & Verde Rivers)

• Typically softer than CAP water
• Lower TDS and calcium
• More prone to being aggressive to new plaster
• Often mixed seasonally with CAP water

3. Municipal Water (Scottsdale, EPCOR)

• Treated blends of CAP and/or SRP
• May contain chloramines or fluoride
• Moderate to high alkalinity
• Variable pH and calcium depending on the season

4. Well Water

• Can be extremely hard (high calcium and iron)
• Risk of metal staining, scale, and oxidation issues
• Often has high pH and alkalinity
• Requires full lab analysis before startup

⚠️ Why This Chemistry Matters for Your New Pool

A brand-new plaster or pebble finish is like fresh concrete — porous, reactive, and vulnerable. If improperly balanced water is added, it can cause:

• Etching and discoloration (from low calcium or aggressive water)
• Scale formation (from high calcium or pH)
• Streaking or spotting (from metals or dirty water)
• Reduced plaster lifespan

These effects often happen in the first 28 days — when your pool surface is still curing.

✅ The Founder's Startup Process

At Founder's Pool Service, we’re certified by the National Plasterers Council (NPC), which means we follow strict startup guidelines — tailored to your specific water source.

Our startup includes:

• Full water testing on Day 1 (pH, TA, CH, TDS, metals)
• Gradual calcium increases for soft water
• Controlled acid dosing for high alkalinity
• Daily brushing, filtration, and LSI tracking
• Delayed chlorine to avoid bleaching finishes
• Weekly balance adjustments based on real chemistry

It is important to use clean potable water and carefully monitor the fill rate and flow to protect your new finish from the start.

📍 Local Knowledge, Professional Care

Whether your new pool is filled with Scottsdale municipal water, EPCOR, or private well water, our team knows how to balance it properly, and we’re proud to offer monthly maintenance after your startup is complete.

Don’t leave your new pool’s finish to chance.
Trust Founder's Pool Service — NPC-certified startup pros serving North Scottsdale and the surrounding areas.

📞 Ready to schedule your startup? Contact us today.