Use Caution When Opening Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs for the
Season
March 19, 2007, DENVER – Swimming pool and hot tub
disinfectants (such as chlorine, bromine and compounds
containing copper) and most other maintenance and cleaning
agents are harmful to fish and aquatic life and should be
prevented from entering streams, rivers, ponds or lakes.
Chlorine and bromine are highly toxic to fish and aquatic
life, even at levels well below the detection limit of the
chlorine test kits that homeowners typically use. Chlorine
as low as 0.002 parts per million could have adverse effects
if released into streams, rivers, ponds or lakes.
To prevent swimming pool or hot tub contaminants from
entering the waterways, please observe the following
practices when opening or maintaining your swimming pool or
hot tub:
- Remove any solid chlorine or bromine tablets or pucks
from the filtration system and disconnect automatic
disinfecting devices well in advance of draining your pool
or hot tub.
- Allow pool or hot tub water to stand uncovered until no
chlorine or bromine residual is can be detected.
- Ensure the water is not drained to areas where there are
storm drains, yard drains, building perimeter drains,
ditches or creeks.
- Allow the water (including regular filter backwash
water) to drain slowly to the ground so it soaks away
without flooding neighboring property, streets or lanes.
- Ensure that the filter backwash is drained to the soil
or a rock pit. Complete the filter backwashing before
increasing the chlorine or disinfectant levels.
- Avoid discharging pool maintenance wastewater, such as
that from cleansing concrete or tile, to the storm drain
system.
- Prior to draining swimming pools or hot tubs to the
sanitary sewer, please be sure to consult with your local
public works department on the appropriateness of such
activity.
- Pay particular attention when handling super-chlorinated
waters.
- Store all pool and hot tub treatment, maintenance and
cleaning chemicals in a secure area where spills are
contained and cannot enter the drainage or the sanitary
sewer systems.
- Old cleaning, maintenance and treatment chemicals may
require special disposal. Follow the manufacturer’s
directions for disposal of these products. For further
disposal information, contact the department’s Hazardous
Materials and Waste Management Division at 303-692-3320.
For more Boulder County information:
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