“Only Rain Down the Storm Drain” is the motto the City of Bloomington is pushing as the weather gets colder and swimming pools, spas and water features start to be drained for the winter season.
The City of Bloomington Utilities released information recently regarding the proper steps for draining treated water. According to the announcement, these steps are taken to ensure the safety of not only waterways but also wildlife, plants, pets and humans.
Because of the threats treated water poses, it is against the law in Bloomington to drain chlorinated pool water into storm drains.
“The biggest of these guidelines is not dechlorinating your pool before you drain it, and so what you’re doing is you’re putting a bunch of chlorine into our water system and that has pretty adverse environmental impacts,” said Bloomington's MS4 Program Coordinator Katherine Zaiger. “We really want to educate people first and let them know the consequences of these actions.”
Those consequences include erosion, poisoning of fish and other forms of wildlife, the browning of water sources and the creation of toxicity in water as well. Those who do not comply with the guidelines could be fined or sent a notice of violation.
The guidelines for draining treated water are as follows:
- Dechlorinate pool water by letting it stand untreated for at least seven days to help allow chlorine or bromine to dissipate
- Test the pH of the pool water to ensure it is close to neutral, near pH 7 before draining; adjust the pH if necessary.
- Remove excess sediment, leaves, and other debris from the water.
- Drain pool water over a well-vegetated area on your own property to slow it down and aerate it.
- Pool water should not be drained directly into a storm drain or a stream.
- Avoid draining pool water across neighboring properties.
- Drain water at a slow rate so it does not erode stream banks downstream of the pool.
