Draining Your Pool or Spa

Refilling Restrictions Lifted on Pools and Spas

Pools and spas may be filled or refilled without restriction at this time. DSRSD water customers should call Customer Service at (925) 828-8524 in advance so we don't think you have a leak. Draining and refilling should not be a substitute for normal cleaning and maintenance.

Covering a pool or spa is highly recommended to reduce evaporation but is no longer required.

Do not use fountains and other water features unless they recirculate the water or use recycled water.

Drain Pool Water Into Your Sewer Cleanout 

Many people don’t realize that storm drains flow directly into local creeks and the San Francisco Bay without any type of wastewater treatment. That’s why pools, spas, and fountains should never be drained into the gutter or storm drain. Pool water can contain copper, chlorine, sediments, and other contaminants that harms plants and animals living in the bay.

DSRSD customers may drain water from a pool, spa, or fountain into the sanitary sewer system through the nearest available sewer cleanout, provided that the wastewater meets the requirements of District Code, section 5.20, Wastewater Discharge and Pretreatment Regulations. Pertinent requirements include:

1. Do not add chemicals to your pool, spa or fountain within several days of discharge, unless the pH must be adjusted to meet requirements (see item 2, below).
2. Wastewater pH must be greater than 6.0 and less than 11.0 at the point of entry into the sanitary sewer (Code section 5.20.040 (B)(2)).
3. Do not discharge sand or diatomaceous earth from filter back-washing or any other maintenance procedures, or any other solid or viscous substances, into the sanitary sewer (Code section 5.20.040 (B)(3)).
4. Wastewater temperature must be below 150° Fahrenheit at the point of discharge into the sanitary sewer and below 104° Fahrenheit at the point of entry into the District’s wastewater treatment plant (Code section 5.20.040 (B)(5)).
5. Do not open sewer manholes without prior authorization from DSRSD (Code section 5.20.040(C)). Use the nearest available sewer cleanout to discharge pool and spa water.
6. The wastewater must be free of algaecides that contain copper. Copper is acutely toxic to plankton and upsets the natural balance of other species in the Bay. Use chlorine to control algae or an algaecide that does not contain copper (Pollution Prevention Program rule).

Resources

• Maintenance Tips for Pools & Spas: This printable flyer explains how to manage your pool with the least impact on the environment.
• Printable summary of DSRSD requirements for discharging pool water into the sanitary sewer.
• If you need further assistance, contact Clean Water Programs Specialist Stefanie Olson at (925) 875-2245.

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