Urban environments have the potential to support a healthy bat community if suitable resources are readily available for a diversity of species. For example, bats can use water sources in urban areas, such as drainage ditches and ponds. However, when these sources are not available or have limited distribution, bats may utilize an alternative source; residential swimming pools. Thus, if such pools could be made more accessible, this may improve urban habitats for bats. Over three years, we conducted behavioral observation and acoustic surveys at 20 pools in suburban Fort Worth, Texas to determine whether pool treatment, shape, lighting, and size influenced bat activity. Using night vision, thermal cameras, and acoustic detectors, we recorded bat activity over the pools. Our results revealed that residential swimming pools can provide at least two resources for bats; drinking and foraging. Yet access and potential availability are dependent on the pool characteristics and the importance of characteristics depended on the type of activity being exhibited. For example, while pool shape affected drinking behavior with more bats drinking at straight-edged pools as opposed to curved-edged pools, it had no impact on foraging. Water treatment types also influenced activity: mineral- and salt-treated pools supported higher drinking and foraging activity compared to chlorine-treated pools. Artificial lighting at pools deterred both bat presence and resource use and lastly, pool size emerged as a key factor for species diversity, with larger pools (>70 m2 in size) supporting more species and activities. These findings emphasize the potential of urban swimming pools as resources for bats and provide practical guidance for designing bat-friendly water sources in residential areas.