Take care in disposing of pool water

Swimming Pool. By Briana Tozour. Free Use. Unsplash.

By Cecilia Nasmith

As swimming-pool season ends, the Town of Cobourg's Environmental Services Department is reminding residents of proper ways to dispose of the water that will help keep the storm-sewer system clean, safe and free of harsh chemicals.

The routine maintenance required for residential pools – chemical treatments, backwashing and fall winterizing – has a potential impact on the air, soil, vegetation and watercourses in the surrounding area.

Discharging pool or hot-tub water to waterways can have disastrous effect to the natural environment, as this water can contain such chemicals as chlorine, bromine, chloride salts, copper-based algaecides, nonylphenols and nonylphenol ethoxylates that are designed to kill and prevent the growth of algae and bacteria. If discharged to local creeks and rivers, they can also be lethal to trout and salmon.

Environmental Services points out that water from a chlorine pool can be discharged on to one's lawn to allow grass and soil to act as a natural filter, as long as it does not cause erosion or other damage or impact to neighbouring properties – though the water from saltwater pools will burn or kill grass and plants.

They also suggest avoiding the addition of chemicals to pool water seven days prior to draining – do not dispose of any pool water before allowing the chemicals to dissipate.

Finally, do not dispose of pool water in any waterway at any time, and do not drain saltwater pools or chlorine pools onto any roadway or municipal storm sewer catch basin (as per Sewer Use Bylaw 22-2008).

For more information, contact Environmental Services at 905-372-7332.