Swimming Pool

Water from pools and spas should never enter the storm sewer system. First, when you clean your filter, do it in a sink or over another drain connected to the sanitary sewer which is connected to a wastewater treatment plant. Pool chemicals can seriously damage waterways. Next, when you’re ready to drain the pool this fall, be sure to de-chlorinate the water before draining it. This means monitoring the pool for three to five days, testing the chlorine levels. Once a pH of seven or eight is reached and before algae starts to grow, it is safe to begin slowly draining the water onto your lawn. Be sure to drain very slowly to limit the amount of runoff. This practice is acceptable only if the water stays within your property boundaries - there can be no runoff onto adjacent lots or onto the street. Releasing the water too quickly can create nuisances like leaving standing water or eroding soil. For proper draining, drain pools and spas into the sanitary sewer to ensure that water ends up at the treatment plant where all chemicals, including chlorine, can be removed. This can be done through any plumbed drain in your home, including a floor drain.