Pool and Spa Care

Even at extremely low amounts the chemicals used to maintain pools and hot tubs can hurt plants and aquatic life in our lakes, rivers, creeks and wetlands.

Discharge Requirements

Drain your pool or spa in accordance with City regulations, see Title 21.03.050.F.

Drain to vegetated areas that may infiltrate into the ground.  If vegetated areas are not available, reduce chlorine in the pool water to undetectable levels (<(less than) 0.1 mg/L).  Consider the following options for removing chlorine:

• Simply stop adding chlorine to your uncovered pool and wait. Sunlight will help to naturally dissipate the chlorine within 10 days. During that time, use a swimming pool test kit to measure chlorine.
• Chemically dechlorinate the pool water. Chemicals that will quickly remove chlorine are available through pool and spa care vendors. Follow the directions on the product label.

Discharges should be cooled to prevent in increase in temperature to receiving water.  Swimming pool cleaning wastewater and filter backwash shall not be discharged to the storm drain system.

Pool Chemicals Harm Aquatic Wildlife

Chlorine 

Chlorine is used to sanitize swimming pools.  It is very toxic to fish, damaging their gills and causing fish to drown.

Bromine 

Bromine is also used to sanitize swimming pools, but it does not break down over time like chlorine does.  In high doses it causes many of the same effects to fish as chlorine.

Copper

Copper is used to kill algae in the filter system.  It is very toxic to fish and can cause reproductive problems as well as tissue damage.  Copper may also kill the algae that aquatic life need to eat.

pH

pH is a measurement of how acidic or basic the water is.  Fish have a pretty narrow range of tolerance before they die.  The ideal pH for aquatic life is between 7 and 8.  Many times the pH in a pool is within this range.  However small rapid changes in pH, from draining your pool, can cause serious health problems or death for aquatic life.

Temperature 

Pool water can be very warm compared to river water.  The sudden shift in temperature caused by draining pool water can affect the health and survival of aquatic life.