This morning when I woke up, I realized Summer might actually be coming to end when that 50 degree temp had me jumping up to grab another blanket before I froze to death. Hard to believe we were in triple digits just last week. But that’s Arkansas for you.
And with these cooler temps moving in, I finally admitted it was time to put the pool away. We don’t have a fancy pool, just one of those quick set pools with the inflatable ring. Not only was it convenient and budget friendly, but it gave the kids many long summer days of fun and memories. But as we considered putting it away, we were faced with our first dilemma since we purchased the pool. What do you do with all that water?
Our pool holds roughly 5,000 gallons of water. Which amounts to about an $80 water bill at my house. And we’re just going to drain it and let it all go to waste? Not at my house. We are all about getting the most for our buck, so we were bound and determined not to waste all that water.
And with a little research, we’ve found some options for you to recycle your pool water too.
Here’s what you need to know.
First of all, your current pool water isn’t good for your garden or landscape. It needs to age a bit first, or more specifically it needs to be a little less chlorinated. You can do this 1 of 2 ways.
1. Turn your pump off, remove your skimmer with the chlorine tablets in it and quit adding any chemicals to your pool. Let your pool go untreated for a few days. Then test it. The pH levels needs to fall between 7 and 8, with the chlorine level at 1 part per million or less. Larger pools may take longer to reach the desired pH level. Then you can either use a siphon or a water pump to water your garden, landscape or yard.
2. Remove a bucket full or more of water and let it stand in the sun for a few days. Again test the water like above. Then use the bucket to water your garden, landscape or yard. (This is a great idea if you want to hold on to those Summer days just a few weeks longer and let the kids swim after school while the afternoon temps still allow it.)
Now, remember that plants, trees, shrubs, and vegetable plants don’t actually enjoy swimming, so water as if you are watering with a regular hose. I know the idea is to drain the pool, but if your garden doesn’t normally hold 5,000 gallons of water at one time, you might want to stretch the process out and give your plants time to soak up the water. And keep in mind that your pool water needs to be algae free before you water your plants or yard.
We turned our pump off for a full week before we used our pool water. Then we used our water on our beloved blackberry bushes and the surrounding yard. The grass looks especially happy 3 days later, and I’m pretty sure the blackberry bushes love us more than ever right now.
I tried to find some information on how to recycle the salt water from salt water pools, but unfortunately couldn’t find any information. If you know of any tips for reusing salt water, share it with us here. We’d love to learn how.
One quick idea before you head off to recycle your pool water. Allowing the chlorine to evaporate from your pool will essentially turn your pool water into gray water, which is perfect for watering your garden. But if you’re unsure about how your plants might react to this gray water, do a test strip. Just like you would test carpet or fabric when you are using a new cleanser, pick a small patch of your garden or landscape and water just that area. Wait a day or two. If the plants still look healthy, you’re good to go.
For more information about recycling your pool water, check out this link. Happy Watering!!!