How do recirculating splash pads differ from pass-through?

The two main splash pad designs trade off differently. Flow-through (pass-through) pads connect directly to the city water main, spray potable water once, and drain it to storm or sanitary sewer. They're simpler — no filters, pumps, surge tanks, or chemical feeders — and the contamination risk is essentially zero because water never recirculates. The downside is enormous water use: 100-300 gallons per minute when running, easily 40,000-100,000 gallons a day. Recirculating pads collect runoff, filter and disinfect it, and reuse it. Water consumption drops 70-90%, which matters in drought-prone regions and explains why most newer pads use this design. The trade-off is more equipment, more electricity, more chemistry to manage, and higher contamination risk if treatment fails. Many states require both UV/ozone and chlorination for recirculating pads.