Yes, your pool and grass should never mix. If the pool’s chlorine gets stuck on the grass’s roots, chances are the grass will die. This article explains how to drain pool water properly and how you can keep your garden safe.
Will Pool Water Kill Grass?
No. Usually, the pool water is harmless and will not affect your pool. Playing in the pool and minor splashes will not drastically change the soil as you think. The little splashes that occur in the pool won’t have enough chemicals to affect the pool.
Most of the time, you’ll see any issues with pool water occurring due to a landscaping issue. Too much chlorine could lead to too much salt with that information, so it’s best to know how to prevent your pool from reaching this stage.
How Does Chlorine Affect Grass?
While small splashes are ineffective on grass, it’s a different story when you’re emptying out your pool. You’ll be emptying a lot of pool water during this process and make sure that the chlorine concentration is less than 0.1 parts per million.
Undiluted chlorine kills a big problem in your grass field. If you accidentally spill undiluted water on your grass, you need to dilute it immediately and water the surrounding area with fresh water.
When in doubt, always dilute chlorine before using it for your pool. That way, it won’t be able to damage your lawn.
How Do Salts Effects Grass
If you’ve ever had the luxury of living near the beach, you’ll know that grass and salt are not compatible. Having an excessive amount of salt will kill your grass if left unattended.
Use gypsum soil to reverse the damage that’s done on your salt. This adds sulfur and calcium, promoting new growth while healing the grass.
Grab a lawn spreader and spread a small layer of Gypsum onto the affected area. Minimize the amount of salt in the area by spraying it on driveways.
Wind-driven salt can be very dangerous if it gets on your lawn. It can travel up to 150 feet and can cause major damage to your lawn, so always try to keep that in mind. This can cause extreme damage to your grass and plants such as fir and pine spruce.
When salt damages evergreen plants, it makes the plant’s colors turn brown. Salt affects deciduous plants as well, but you won’t notice it until the spring when your plants are growing because of grass damage.
If the rain is unable to dilute salt from the driveway, it will turn salty and can potentially damage your plants. To prevent this, grade your driveways and walks so they will drain from your plants. In the spring, use water to rinse out all the plants to protect them from salt.
While salt damage can be hard to reverse, you can prevent it by using a decir. For instance, sand and kitty litter are two ways you can melt ice without damaging your plants.
Can I Drain My Pool Water On The Lawn?
Draining your pool water on your lawn is a bad idea. The chlorine will affect your plants and negatively impact their growth. Get a test kit and make sure the chlorine is at 0.1PPM before draining it in your backyard.
Also, you need to check your pool’s pH levels. If the pool water is not in the neutral range (6.5 – 7.8), avoid draining it. High acidity will kill your plants and damage their long-term health.
It’s also important to check your state’s local regulations and laws for discharging pool water. Usually, most laws state that the pool water remains on your property; it does not creep into your neighbor’s property.
In fact, some states might require you to have a permit to move water to storm drains. Following these regulations will protect the environment from chlorine runoff and water pollution.
If you’re planning to drain pool water in your yard, you must do it properly. You run the risk of flooding, cracks, and chipping on the walls.
The caveat of draining pool water in your lawn is that it can increase the chances of flooding in your yard. This can result in drowned grassroots and more mosquitos on your lawn. Here’s how you can prevent flooding on your lawn:
- Drain the pool in smaller increments – this can take 2-4 days
- Move the hose to different areas of the yard.
For those who have saltwater pools, you can follow these steps as well. Make sure you saturate the ground with water to reduce the salinity levels.
How Can I Drain My Pool Without Killing The Grass?
First, you need to determine what type of pool it is:
- Fiberglass pools: You can drain fiberglass pools during short periods. However, it can pop up if you’re draining with expansive soils or a high water table. Recent rainfall, local topography, and elevation are all common risk factors.
- Concrete Pools: Concrete pools are the most stable pool type. You must use a hydrostatic valve for the main drain and hydrostatic relief plugs for the floor to train them effectively. Avoid keeping the pool empty for extended periods of time.
- Vinyl Pools: Vinyl pools should not be drained on the floor. The vinyl liner will shrink and relax in certain areas. If you have to repair the vinyl, use a cyclone liner vacuum when refilling.
When draining a pool, you’ll want to avoid doing it during heavy rainstorms. The rainstorms will not only make your job more difficult, but you could accidentally spill water into your neighbor’s lawn.
Give your pool time to drain before you start repairs. That way, you’re not wasting time, and the pool will be able to start repairs. You’ll want to drain your pool during warm weather. Start draining your pool once the weather reaches 55-85° F. Colder temperatures will be bad for your pool surfaces.
Ways To Drain Swimming Pools Safely
Location
Knowing where to drain your pool is the most critical aspect of the process. If you have clean water, it can be sent to the storm drain. This is most applicable if you have a gutter/curb type of street.
Pool water that is pH balanced and chlorine neutralized can be drained downhill from your pool. Just remember to monitor it frequently to avoid over-saturation and erosion.
When pumping, always do it away from the pool. Too much water that’s underneath your pool will lead to future problems.
Time
You’ll want to drain your pool when you have the time for it. Additionally, you don’t want your pool to stay idle for more than a week. But you’ll need a sufficient amount of time to start the draining process.
Stay on task when draining your pool. You don’t want to be running multiple errands when moving large quantities of water. On average, it will take around 8 hours to drain the pool fully – some pools can take up to 16 hours. And if you’re planning to refill the pool, then it will take up even more time.
The Draining Process
Come up with a game plan before draining your pool. Remember, you’re moving thousands of gallons of water in one sitting – and it needs to go somewhere. Also, you cannot drain the pool in your backyard. Doing that will lead to chemical-based water entering your grass.
Pool pop-ups occur when underground pressure is around your pool. If you place the water to the ground, chances are you’ll regret it.
So, where should you drain your water? Speak with local water authorities to see how you can drain the water effectively. Usually, the best way to drain the water is through a sewer cleanout in your home.
But some states allow you to drain the water directly on the street. Others have strict laws on when you’re eligible to drain your pool. Go to your state’s .gov and see which regulations apply to you.
To prevent pool pop-up, make sure the draining hose is long enough to have sewer cleanout. Also, place the drainage hose downward from the pool. You’ll never know about the sewage cleanout unless you’re moving water through. So if something wrong occurs, make sure it’s not near the pool.
Conclusion
Draining your pool water can be a time-consuming process. Make sure you are going slowly and cohering with your local state laws when doing it. After about a few days of draining, you’ll finally have your pool completely clean!
F.A.Q.
Will Pool Water Kill Trees?
Pool waters can kill trees. The chlorine can stick to the trees’ roots and kill them from the ground up. Because of this, it’s best to have your pool at a different location than the trees. That way, there’s no overlap, and the trees can continue to remain healthy.
Will Pool Water Kill Plants?
Swimming pools contain chemicals such as chlorine to keep them clean. However, those same chemicals can kill your plants if there’s too much concentration of them. For those who have flowerbeds or gardens, it’s best to keep them as far away as possible.
