It was a summer of fun in your backyard pool.  Now that fall is in the air, it's time to drain it and put it away.   But what is the proper way to discharge the water that you've been swimming in all summer long?

The chlorinated water in both swimming pools and hot tubs can have an adverse affect on the environment and your neighbors around you.  The City of Superior reminds homeowners that there are some steps you need to take in order to discharge the water properly.

  • Dechlorinate the water.  There are additives that you can buy to accelerate this process and leaving the cover off can help as well.  Air and sun will neutralize the chlorine levels over time.
  • Test for algicides.  The pH of the water should be between 6.5 and 8.5 before you discharge the water.
  • Once you're ready, give thought to where you're letting the water discharge.  The best-case scenario is to drain it onto land so it can soak into the ground.  You should avoid areas where the old pool water will run or drain directly into a waterway like a ditch or stream.  As a last case scenario, you can drain it into the sanitary sewer but be aware that this creates a larger load for the city system to handle and will also invalidate any sewer credit you were anticipating.

For more information, contact the City of Superior.  The Environmental Protection Agency also provides valuable information.

 

 

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