With the original design there were too much threads where the hose screwed in and some hoses didn't bottom out onto the hose gasket. Ann, try simply adding another hose gasket. That should solve the leaking problem for you. If that still doesn't fix the leaking problem, return or exchange it for a new one. The newer design has less threads to prevent this from happening.
Performance wise? It really depends on your water pressure. It takes the water and splits it into 7 separate streams. If you have great water pressure, it works quite well. If your pressure is only so-so, it doesn't put out a lot of power.
Personally, besides cleaning spa filters (and I don't use it for that as I have something better) it's the absolute best nozzle for washing the car :P
(http://www.rhtubs.com/store/images/waterwand1.jpg)
Doc, my water wand developed leaks at the swtich to turn it on and off.
And that's exactly where the escaping water usually comes out. It doesn't leak out of where the hose screws in.
I would be interested in what you have that is better...
When I did my last water change, I left my dirty filters in place to pull out the iron. When I switched them with clean ones they were really rust covered. Typically my purple filter cleaner will remove all the orange ...but not this time. I have been soaking, spraying...you name it and there is still orange rust all over the filters.. >:(
(http://www.rhtubs.com/store/images/fliterblaster4.jpg)
I think they're overly expensive, but I tend to be, shall we say, frugal, on these type of things. But, it does a great job, is simple to use and I got it as a free sample. I just drop the filter on, turn on the hose, and walk away. A few minutes later the filter is as clean as it would be if I stood there for twice as long with a hose getting soaked :P ............ However, in your case, if blasting it with hose wont clean it, I don't think this would work much better. Just easier.
If adding another hose gasket doesn't fix the leaking and you got the Water Wand from us, please PM me your address and I'll send out another to you. I don't klnow if we have the new version in yet as there's really no way to tell the difference. The manufacturer was going to simply have them made with 1-1/2 fewer threads, and no other markings of any kind.