It’s officially fall, which means pool owners are closing backyard pools and cleaning out hot tubs in preparation of the colder weather.
The City of Bartlesville wants to remind area residents that it is illegal to release chlorinated water down your neighborhood storm drain or drainage culvert. This is because water flowing into these run directly into our streams, reservoirs, and waterways. Aquatic life cannot tolerate echlorine or other chemicals often found in pool water and backwash water from filtration units.
There are, however, options for safely draining your chlorine treated pools and hot tubs.
Option A
To drain to a storm drain or drainage channel you first need to:
1. Dechlorinate the water before draining. This can be done by allowing the pool water to stand untreated for 10 days and testing to ensure 0.5 mg/L or less before draining.
2. If the water is heated, allow it cool prior to draining.
3. Test the pH and adjust as needed to a level between 6.0 and 9.0 before draining.
Option B
After following the same steps listed above in Option A, you can drain your dechlorinated and cooled water to a grassy area on your own property, where it won’t create erosion or runoff into a storm drain or drainage way, and just let the water absorb into the ground.
Option C (Only option for salt water pools)
You can drain your pool or hot tub water into the sanitary sewer. Most in-ground pools have a drain line connection to the sanitary sewer.
For additional ways you can help protect our local waterways and water supply, see https://www.cityofbartlesville.org/community-development/engineering/stormwater-management/.