Draining or Maintaining Your Pool? Know the Rules!

Before discharging excess pool water:

• Stop adding chemicals. Do not add chlorine, bromine or other chemicals for approximately seven days before draining.

• Test the water. Before pool water is discharged, chlorine/bromine should be at 0 and pH should be between 6 and 9. Do not drain water until they are within the allowable ranges. 

• Filter out algae and debris (sticks, leaves or other pollutants).

• Choose a safe discharge location. If the water meets the above requirements, preferably discharge it slowly to a well-established, vegetated area where it can soak into the ground or filter through vegetation before reaching a street, storm drain, ditch or creek. 

• Prevent erosion and flooding. Do not discharge water in a way that causes erosion, flooding or other problems.

Never discharge saltwater into a street, storm drain, creek, pond or lake.

If you need to drain a saltwater pool, you may be able to discharge it to the sanitary sewer with permission from Charlotte Water. Call 704-525-6435 before discharging. Charlotte Water may provide specific instructions, including a specific flow rate and time of day, to help prevent sewage overflows.

When needing to drain an entire pool, another option is to hire a commercial water hauling service to collect and properly dispose of the water.

Never discharge filter backwash directly to a street, storm drain, creek, pond or lake.

Filter backwash can be discharged to the sanitary sewer with approval (some are already connected to the sewer system) or to a vegetated area where the flow will not cause erosion. If you plan to discharge to the sanitary sewer, contact Charlotte Water at 704-525-6435 for guidance.

Remember that it is illegal to open a sanitary sewer manhole cover to dispose of pool water into the sanitary sewer system. Always dispose of pool water in an approved location.

Maintenance activities like washing, plastering and grouting may generate wastewater that needs to be disposed of properly (i.e., not where it can enter a storm drain or creek). Before discharging to the sanitary sewer, contact Charlotte Water at 704-525-6435 about rules and guidance. Oftentimes, contractors perform maintenance work. Ask them how they plan to manage and dispose of the wastewater before they begin work.  

Store pool chemicals in a dry, covered location protected from rain and stormwater. Keep containers closed and follow the manufacturer's storage and handling instructions.

A chemical spill that reaches a street or storm drain can quickly become a water quality problem. Use dry methods to clean spills, and protect storm drain inlets.