Pool Backwash water query

dolphin17


Joined: 11/06/2009
Posts: 40

Message Posted:
14/07/2011 22:54

Does anyone know if the backwash water from the pool is harmful to garden plants, especially Miaforma hedging?



Thanks

gooligan


Joined: 30/01/2007
Posts: 1591

Message Posted:
14/07/2011 23:00

Depends on what you use in your pool.

0maintenance


Joined: 22/09/2010
Posts: 2179

Message Posted:
14/07/2011 23:11

Chlorine-treated tap water has very low concentrations of chlorine, and is not generally harmful to plants. However, high concentrations of chlorine, as found in swimming pools, can potentially cause damage. Leaving chlorinated water to sit in a container in the sunlight for a few days will allow chlorine gas to dissipate, making water safer to use on plants.



So they say,but i have seen some gardens seriously damaged from pool backwash water with chlorine in it,but that was put direct onto the garden.

dolphin17


Joined: 11/06/2009
Posts: 40

Message Posted:
14/07/2011 23:46

Thank you for that Omaintenance. We will not use it for the garden, don't want to kill off the plants!

islandgirl


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 302

Message Posted:
14/07/2011 23:52

We use our backwash all the time, no problem.

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
14/07/2011 23:57

he's like 6ms on a satalite thread islandgirl , always putting his tuppenceworth in ? happy chlorine drinking / swimming

0maintenance


Joined: 22/09/2010
Posts: 2179

Message Posted:
14/07/2011 23:59

rowlo you fool.



message 1 is asking a serious question.



I offerd a serious answer.



Take you mouth to the toilet please.

flossie44


Joined: 05/03/2009
Posts: 223

Message Posted:
15/07/2011 00:02

We have used backwash water for a couple of years with no ill effects. We do, however try and leave it a couple of days before using it.



flossie

frontalman



Joined: 28/02/2008
Posts: 499

Message Posted:
15/07/2011 08:49

Banana trees don't mind chlorinated water, nor do geraniums or flowers generally, lilies love it. The chlorine content of a well-balanced pool shouldn't affect any plant in the short term. Constant dumping of backwash water may affect the acidity of the soil, as acid (PH down) is generally used along with chlorine.

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
15/07/2011 09:03

Generally, with a twice per week clean, the chlorine from 1 clean has fully dissapated by the time of the next. As long as the backwash is done BEFORE new chlorine is added, there should be negligible amounts in the backwash water.

sienna


Joined: 09/01/2009
Posts: 1627

Message Posted:
15/07/2011 09:08

on our complex we use our backwash water now to water our plants - it used to just be thrown away (criminal) so to make use of iton an island where water is scarce then everyone should do it

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
15/07/2011 10:32

Hands up who knows when to backwash?

No cheating by looking it up!

It is relevant to this thread.

laptarunner



Joined: 02/11/2009
Posts: 217

Message Posted:
15/07/2011 11:04

The amount of organic matter in back wash water, should mean any chlorine is depleated. If there is chlorine in the water, I would suggest that the back wash is being carried to often or for to long.



Regards

pc4854


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 243

Message Posted:
15/07/2011 11:50

Why does no one here supply sea water for pools. My water man was supposedly getting government approval to do this but it never happened. It seems a minor type of desalination is necessary and then the water is fine. If we all use a water tanker service for our pools, the it would seem a reasonably cheap and quick way of saving valuable tap water.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
15/07/2011 12:19

Not necessarily cheap. It will need transporting in a dedicated stainless steel tanker, or corrosion will eat it up.

I looked into sea water chlorinators but drew a lot of apathy. Didn't look into it any further.

There are also some concerns about leaky pools contaminating the ground water.