Filling A Pool With Well Water: What To Consider
Can a well provide enough water for your pool? This depends on the size of your pool and the wells supply. The wells flow rate is the number of gallons of water it can produce per hour which actually represents how quickly water flows back into the well. In other words, a well cant expel more water than it takes in.
Around 600 gallons per hour would be considered a high flow rate, and anything lower than about 150 gallons per hour would be low. If it has a high flow rate, the well can most likely fill a pool, but with a low flow rate, it may run dry. You should also consider whether youre sharing the water table with neighbors and whether youre currently in a drought.
Most wells are drilled deep into the ground, which makes the water less likely to be contaminated with bacteria, viruses, and human waste. However, since it sits below ground level for a relatively long time, theres a good chance the water contains various minerals and trace metals. These can include:
- Arsenic
- Vanadium
- Zinc
When it comes to swimming pools, the presence of these contaminants can create some issues. For example, calcium hardness can lead to clogged filters and pipes.
Additionally, when water contains too much manganese or iron, it can lead to bacteria growth. In some instances, high levels of iron can visibly tint the water a brownish-green color and stain the walls of a pool or swimmers hair.
How Much Water Does My Pool Need
Chances are, if you’ve had a pool for years and years, you probably know the size and dimensions for your pool. But for those who are just starting out in the pool world, some easy calculations are in order. First, you can simply go here to find your pool size, or go old school and learn how to calculate it yourself. To find your pool size:
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What Are The Differences Between Tap Water And Well Water
Well water usually contains minerals, so you might find your well water has higher magnesium and calcium than tap water.
Interestingly, well water isnt regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency , which means you have to be responsible for testing your own water.
You should start by having your water tested for common contaminants by a certified lab.
If there are certain contaminants in your area, then these should also be tested for, and based on the results of the test you can treat them if need be to ensure the quality of your wells water.
You might need to disinfect your well water if any of the following apply to you:
- Water tests reveal that there is bacteria in the well
- Flood or surface water has entered the well
- Youve drilled a new well on your property and its connected to your households plumbing system
- Youve repaired the well, such as by replacing a pump
- Youre doing yearly maintenance on the well
You can disinfect your well water with household bleach. Youll need approximately 10 liters of bleach to be put into the storage tank where youve pumped about 500 gallons of water.
You can learn more about the process by visiting the Manitoba website, which gives you lots of details about the process and what steps you should follow when disinfecting your well water.
Now, what about tap water and how its treated?
Unlike well water, tap water is municipal so that means it is regulated by the EPA.
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Capacity Of The Well And Swimming Pool
Approximately 20,000 gallons would fill a swimming pool. At most, the pool would need an estimate of about 10 12 GPM to fill up that number, which will take hours. If the well produces so much less in a minute, the flow rate will be very low, and the chances of your well running dry are increased.
If you recently built a new swimming pool, chances are that you dont know the precise amount of water it will contain. In fact, there is every possibility that you are not knowledgeable about swimming pool and fillings. There is a simple way to calculate how much water your pool would need.
For oval pools, you can use your tape to measure the length, width, and depth and then multiply all three by 6.7.
For round pools, measure and square the diameter. Multiply it by the depth and 7.5.
Multiply the length by the width and depth by 7.5 for rectangular pools.
Payback For The Short Cut
Filling up a pool with well water will save you an average of 15 hours of possibly wasted time if you use a conventional hose. Water is naturally packed with iron, but well waters ionic state have dramatically higher iron levels. Over time, the iron level of the water increases even more, turning it into rusty brown, hue or green color. This causes stain not only on the walls, but also on the hair and nails of swimmers. Sprinkle the rusty water with dirt and leaves for a sure disaster youll never want to re-experience. This enables swimmers to get the best water pool with a clear vision.
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Cut Costs By Reducing Pool Water Loss
One of the best ways to save money when you refill your pool is to protect the balanced water thats already in it. You can cut down on your water expenses by reducing or eliminating the four biggest pool water wasters:
- evaporation
- excessive splashing
- filter backwashing
They might seem fairly innocuous, but every drop adds up, and before you know it, you might find yourself spending money like water.
How Much Does It Cost To Fill A Pool With Water
Pool filling costs less than you think with all factors considered. The average homeowner uses about 12,000 gallons of water per month. The average pool is somewhere between 15,000- 30,000 gallons. Using that simple math, it stands to reason that your water bill will at least double when you fill your pool for the first time from a hose. For just a few more pennies per gallon, you could enjoy more time splashing with the family and alleviate any hassle associated with the task at hand.
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City Water From A Fire Hydrant
Because garden hoses are such a slow way to fill a pool, many people wonder if its possible to fill a pool with water from a fire hydrant.
Cost: Varies tremendously. In some places, a fire department will do it for free, as an exercise to flush the line. In other places, they will do it for the cost of water, or perhaps you need to rent the hoses or pay an access fee. In some cities, you cant do it at all and can get arrested for trying.
Time: A fire hydrant in good working order can deliver 1,500 gpm, but you shouldnt fill a pool with fire hydrant water at full pressure even though it is one of the faster ways to do it.
Considerations: If you have a fire hydrant near your home, it may be worth calling your local fire department to ask about the possibility. There is huge local variation in the use of fire hydrants, but it doesnt hurt to ask.
When Do You Need To Fill Or Refill A Pool
There are some severe water quality issues that can only be addressed by completely draining and cleaning a pool. However, for most homeowners, depending on their water quality and maintenance habits, a pool should be drained, cleaned, and refilled approximately every 2-3 years.
All pools do need the occasional top-up, because the water level lowers due to splash-out, evaporation, backwashing, and other factors. Most pool owners need to top-up pool levels in summer every week or two.
If your pool water levels are needing to be topped up more frequently, you may have a leak, or follow these tips below to help conserve water.
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Re: Filling Pool With Well Water Without Running Well Dry
Sissy,I filled mine out of the well over the course of a week. I would put the hose in and turn the hydrant partially on. If you turn it on full bore then your well will cycle more often and may not allow adequate rest time for your pump. Another option might be to see if your local fire department fills swimming pools.
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The Rotten Egg Effect
Well water often has a distinctive scent and taste thanks to hydrogen sulfide and other minerals. The elements that permeate the water table are usually filtered out by city water plants. But when you pull your water straight from the well, youre getting everything the waters touched, and dissolved, on its way to your well.
This can be a problem because all those excess minerals can make sanitizing and balancing your water a major headache. Sulphur compounds can prevent your shock from working properly, while iron, copper, and other metals can damage your hardware and stain your liner. Free water isnt much of a bargain when youre blowing your budget just trying to maintain healthy basic pool chemistry.
Err on the side of caution and test your well water for excessive amounts of hydrogen sulfide, copper, and iron before you fire up the pump.
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How To Prevent Pool Water Loss
Filling your pool is one thing and its another to prevent water loss. Preventing water loss will cut down on your cost, which is important.
You can prevent pool water loss by
- Using a solar pool cover A solar pool cover will reduce the chance of your pool water evaporating. This is done by pulling the cover over the surface of the pool.
- Fixing leaks Some minor leaks can result to the loss of thousand gallons of water in a year. Its vital that you check for leaks around the pool to avoid losing water. If you are not able to fix the leak, contact a professional to help you fix it.
- Using a backwash pool filter Sand filter will ensure that your pool has minimal backwash.
- Avoid splashing It can be fun splashing water in a pool, but frequent splashing will lead to the loss of gallons of water in the long run. Keeping the splash to the minimum is key to avoiding loss of water.
What To Do If Your Swimming Pool Water Is Brown
A brown swimming pool is disgusting and would certainly drive people away from enjoying their leisure time swimming. Swimming in a brown pool will get your hair, nails, and even your suit discolored. The major cause of this brown discoloration is due to the abundance of iron in the water. The high imbalance between iron element and other elements causes your pool to go brown.
If you are wondering how iron got into your pool? Well, just so that you know, iron is the fourth most abundant element on the planet. It naturally exists in water, so you shouldnt be surprised that its in the well water that you used to fill up your swimming pool. Its also the reason why your pool is cloudy.
Dont too worry if your pool is brown because there is always a way to get it looking all attractive again.
If you are using well water to fill your pool, as soon as you notice the brown discoloration in the pool, stop immediately. However, if the brown discoloration didnt appear immediately until after sometime, what you should do is to get the pool analyzed. A pool expert analyzing the pool will let you know which method will be more convenient in treating the pool.
After the pool must have been analyzed, you can use any of the methods below to remove brown color from the pool.
- Using the Shock Treatment method
You may find it complicated using the stock treatment instantly. Its crucial that you read the instructions for use that is written on the label.
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Ways To Fill Up Your Swimming Pool With Water
There are few different ways to fill your swimming pool with water. Some methods are faster than others, while some are more affordable. So whether youre looking for the fastest, or cheapest way to fill your pool with water, this section is for you.
One of the easiest, and most affordable ways to fill your swimming pool is by using city tap water and a garden hose. All you need is running water, a garden hose, and an outdoor water spigot to connect it to.
With that said, before filling your swimming pool, be sure to check for any water shortages or mandatory rationing in your state.
How long does it take to fill a swimming pool with a garden hose?
For an average-sized, 15,000-gallon swimming pool, it takes about 48 hours to fill the pool with water.
What is the cheapest way to fill my pool?
While it may not be the fastest way, using a garden hose and city tap water is the cheapest way to fill your swimming pool.
The average American family uses 12,000 gallons of water per month. And the average-sized swimming pool is around 15,000 gallons. So with that math, it costs a little more than your average monthly water bill to fill up your swimming pool. Whenever you decide to fill your swimming pool, expect your water bill to double that month.
Is It Cheaper To Fill A Pool With A Hose?
Have you ever wondered if you can buy water to fill your pool? Specifically, if you can pay for a water delivery service that sends the water straight into your swimming pool?
How To Refill Your Pool Water On The Cheap
Maybe youve got a brand new pool. Maybe your pool has a bad case of contamination, or youre refilling a pool you had to drain for repairs or a new pool liner. Or maybe you have to replace the water that splashed out when your Big Uncle Jimmy did his famous cannonball at your last pool party. Whatever the reason, you need an affordable method of pool water delivery.
How you fill your pool depends on your location, water quality, and available resources. But however you do it, a little planning, a bit of math, and careful water conservation can help you save money when its time for a fresh fill-up.
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Tips For Filling Swimming Pool With Well Water That Wont Run Your Well Dry
- /ByDorisA
Filling up your swimming pool can be time consuming. Worse still, you may be confused as to where you should get water from to fill it up. An average swimming pool can hold thousands of gallons of water, which means that you will be needing a water source that would conveniently fill up your pool without having to go dry. This is very vital.
Using well water to fill up a swimming pool seems to be the one of the most convenient ways. However, its a little tricky. If you use well water to fill your pool and it runs well dry, it will cost you thousand of dollars and several weeks to drill a new one. Not to talk of you could risk having your swimming pool brown.
Filling A Swimming Pool And Strain On Well Pump
- PP.K. on Jun 30, 2005I have a 9 year old home with a 5″ well. Recently I noticed that when the pump starts working, the preassure guage begins to move toward the higher reading. When it gets to about 40 lbs, I hear water running into the tank. It sounds like someone is holding a glass of water and pouring in into an empty pail. After a few seconds the noise stops, and the preassure guage jumps about 5 lbs and a few seconds later it builds up to 50 lbs, and as it shuts off I hear the water fall noise again. Can I just put some air in the tank? If so, how mush preassure is the right amount? If not, should I be calling the well people to come over and replace the tank?I assume that this noise, which just started up, is caused by something going wrong in the tank, or some type of leak, however, I hear no air leaking when near the tank.Thanks in adavnce for your assistance
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Its All About Balance
The presence of metals and minerals can impact the alkalinity and pH levels of water. For this reason, its important to be aware of chemical imbalances if youre planning to fill your pool with well water.
A chemically balanced pool is a clean and crystal-clear pool. The good news is that you can balance water chemistry by carefully treating it. However, it can be a somewhat difficult process and may take a little time to get it right.
When you test the water, you might find that the pH is either too low or too high, in which case it will need to be balanced with a chemical treatment. If its too high, youll need to treat it with a pH- basicity corrector. If its too low, youll treat it with a pH+ basicity corrector.
How To Fill A Pool Using Well Water
Filling a pool using well water is done as follows:
1. Check the wells water flow rate.
2. Test the water using a pool water test kit and metal test kit.
3. Attach the garden hose to the wells pump and place the open end of the garden hose inside the pool.
4. Turn off the pool equipment and turn on the wells pump.
5. Treat the water using the needed chemicals.
Keep reading for detailed instructions on filling your pool using well water.
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