just lift the lever up, turn it 180 degrees, and slowly lift the block out of the pump head and you are good to go. At most I get 1-2 drops of water out of the block when I take it out...I then carry the canister to the sink and do the work and take it back and put the the block back in, twist the other way and you are good to go. No leaks, no spilled water, etc. It really is very easy to maintain