Pools

Look for visible leaks: Inspect the pool and surrounding area for standing water or dripping water, which may indicate a leak. Many pool leaks are associated with the pump and heating system, so periodically inspect this equipment for visible leaks or white crusty mineral deposits on pipes which could indicate a slow leak.

Check the autofill: Autofill devices fill pools with water automatically and are typically located next to the pool, inside a recessed container beneath a round lid. A malfunctioning autofill device can waste extraordinary amounts of water by constantly adding water to your pool which then flows out of your overflow drain.

Do a bucket test:

1. To conduct the test, turn off the pool’s autofill and the autofill water supply line, and don’t add any water until the test is complete. Try not to splash water out of the pool during the test and don’t run any backwash cycles.
2. Place a bucket or container on a pool step without submerging it and then fill it with water to match same level as the water in the pool.
3. Wait a minimum of two to three days to let natural evaporation occur. If it rains or it’s a windy day, you may have to redo the test. If the water levels in the pool and the bucket go down the same amount, you do not have a leak in the pool. If the water level in the pool has dropped more than the level in the bucket, you may have a leak.
4. If you detect a leak, you can run a second test to determine whether it’s in the pool structure or the pool’s plumbing system. If the pool’s pump was running during the first test, repeat the test with the pump manually turned off. If the pump was turned off during the first test, repeat the test with the pumping system running. If tests reveal that more water was lost with the pump running, the plumbing may be the cause.

For information on pool repair, we recommend contacting a professional technician with a California C-61/D-35 license.

Pool evaporation rates can vary due to sunlight intensity, air and water temperature, wind, humidity, and shading. If you use a solar cover, evaporation should be almost zero. If you use a heater without a cover, evaporation can be significant.

The California Spa and Pool Industry Education Council estimates that evaporation can result in as much as a half inch to two inches of water loss per week, and that an uncovered 400 square foot pool will lose nearly 20,000 gallons of water per year to evaporation.

Weather has a significant impact on evaporation rates, and more water will be lost during dry, windy periods than during hot, humid, and still periods. The sun does not directly cause evaporation, but it indirectly increases it by warming the temperature of the water’s surface.

Night vs Day: The evaporation rate during the day and night is quite similar (assuming the same wind) because the relative humidity rises at night as the temperature cools, keeping the same amount of water in the air. You see the evaporation effects more readily when the air is cooler since its increased saturation means there will be more visible “steam” as the water condenses.

Pools can be filled at any time under normal (non-drought) conditions. Notifying OMWD is not required; however, providing us with advance notice saves us from potentially contacting you if we notice abnormal water usage.

OMWD does not offer a discounted rate for pool filling.

Pools seldom require draining if chemical levels are properly maintained, so consult a professional to ensure it’s necessary. To avoid draining altogether, water restoration services are available that run pool water through mobile reverse osmosis filters.

If draining your pool is required, refer to your city’s regulations for discharge instructions: Encinitas, Carlsbad, Solana Beach, City of San Diego, San Diego County. In most cases, pool water can be drained to the storm drain but only when the water is treated to be free of chlorine, algaecides, acid wash, or high levels of salinity.

Chemicals that remove chlorine are available through pool and spa care vendors. Pool chemical test kits are also available from pool supply vendors that confirm that water has reached acceptable levels for disposal.

OMWD wastewater customers cannot drain pools to the sewer system per OMWD’s Rules and Regulations for Use of District Sewerage Facilities, Section 3.1.B.15. If OMWD does not provide your wastewater service, contact your wastewater provider.

Alternatively, watering the landscape with pool water is an option, but only if chemicals and salinity are removed and the landscape can accommodate the water without running off the property.

Yes. Improper discharges to the storm drain may subject the violator to monetary fines, criminal and civil penalties, or other repercussions as stated in your city’s regulations. Refer to your city for more information.

Improper discharges to the OMWD sewer system may subject the violator to monetary fines, criminal and civil penalties, physical disconnection of the property from the sewer system, and/or other penalties provided for in OMWD’s Rules and Regulations for Use of District Sewerage Facilities.

• Use a pool cover to reduce evaporation and help keep your pool clean. A cleaner pool needs fewer chemicals and requires less backwashing.
• Use filtration types that require less backwashing. Sand filters are common due to low costs and ease of maintenance, but they require frequent cleaning cycles. Consider a glass media that allows for a shorter backwash cycle and can often be used as a replacement media within an existing sand filter system.
• When hiring a professional pool technician, we recommend ensuring they are certified with a California C-61/D-35 license.
• Minimize “splash out” by not overfilling the pool.