Tips on emptying home swimming pools

The traditional ‘End of Summer Holiday Weekend' is fast approaching.  After the coming weekend many people will be planning to empty swimming pools and prepare them for winter.  There are concerns with handling large amounts of chlorinated water.

For storm water quality, chlorine residual that keeps the swimming pool water clean and free of bacteria and other germs can harm aquatic life when discharged to street drains and storm sewers which empty directly to natural streams and water ways.

On the other hand, large amounts of water discharged too quickly into a sanitary sewer, like a floor drain, could cause sanitary sewer back-ups. The recommended method is to let the chlorine dissipate for 3 to 4 days.  Do not add fresh chlorine before the planned discharge date.  Operate the filter system to keep water circulating in the pool.  The movement of the water will speed up the process of chlorine being dissipated.   Test for low levels and if the chlorine residual is zero then it is safe to pump the water to nearest storm sewer or simply out to the yard.  Please take precautions to avoid flooding neighbors.