I live in Southern California and have a pool in my backyard. Is pool water treated with chlorine drinkable? This would make a convenient source of water. I've heard bromine is not healthy. What other chemicals should i avoid treating the pool with to keep the water drinkable?

Adam

-- adam (encelia@mailexcite.com), November 06, 1998

Answers

I'm sure someone else here can add alot of information in regards to chemicals and whether or not you should drink pool water or how you can change the chemical balance to make it drinkable. I would guess that you would at the very least have to filter it through a carbon based filter to remove the high concentration of chlorine. Not sure if carbon filters bromine.

My main reason for posting an answer is to offer a suggestion, at the very least, the pool provides a great supply of usable water for flushing toilets, cleaning pots/pans, washing hands, etc . . . a good advantage even if it doesn't wind up being your number one source for drinking water. I wonder if it would be wise to cover the pool to reduce water evaporating and to minimize contaminants.

-- David (David@BankPacman.com), November 06, 1998.

Yes, cover it, keep the filter running - don't "lay up" the pool in September 1999 as you would otherwise. Then, in late Dec 1999, you can check and adjust chemical levels as required.

Check withyour pool service/tech group on exact levels - I honestly (but not technically, if you understand that distinction makes a difference) - don't think that emergency water for drinking for even up to 2-3-4 weeks would matter - as long as it was neither completely depleted from Cl (or Br) or way too high - would taste a bit funny perhaps.

Consider that this is pool water used to swim in (and obviously, incidently drink) get in eyes, etc. through the summer. Not to mention the unmentionables that kiddo's will occasionly do. And these Cl levels are intended to maintain it safe to play in despite the ummentionables. So they'd be okay for keeping it drinkable in a survival situation. Obviously too - for flushing, washing the kids, washing the cat, washing the kitchen, ....

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), November 06, 1998.

Thanks. If the electricity is down, we can't keep the pump/filter running. So then what would we need to do differently? Covering the pool is obviously a good idea, though it raises the temp. of the water considerably (up to 100 F last year). Unfortunately, algae and other more noxious creatures thrive in warm water. The reason for asking about the drinking/cooking aspect is that we are a household of 8 people and storing even a month's worth of water would take a lot of room we don't have. At this time, we are considering having the pool resurfaced at the end of the swimming season (it needs it anyway), so the water would be relatively fresh.

-- adam (encelia@mailexcite.com), November 06, 1998.

We have an above ground (about 13000 gal.) pool. Thought we would fill it to the brim late next year and put a brand new, strong and *waterproof* cover over it (maybe two of them) and tied tight to the deck all around. Along with this, a clean barrell floating in the middle to create the dome. To keep the wind from blowing dirt under the edge of the cover, we'll sandbag the entire perimeter. These bags can also be filled with wheat for an "in plain sight" hiding place. Should be ok using 2 gal. freezer bags sealed and taped.

BTW, 14 oz. metalic potato chip bags seem like they would be good for holding a lot of things. Just fill them and rubber glue the top edge closed. Haven't tried this yet but probably paper clips would help here too. Me.

-- Floyd Baker (fbaker@wzrd.com), November 06, 1998.

I don't know this for sure, I need to check some references, but,...it was my understanding that algae doesn not contaminate water...in fact algae grows because it is thriving on nutrients in water...if anything,...algae acts as part of bio-filter system....I would of course still filter before drinking...or boil...but don't worry to much about algae until hearing otherwise.

I will definitely look for more info on this since rainwater barrels will also grow algae under the correct conditions.....

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), November 07, 1998.

It occurs to me to mention that I have a 450 gallon ornamental pond with a few koi and substantial bio-filtration system in my backyard, waterfall...etc. This is why the algae question is one I wish to explore further. As a pond keeper I have learned that 'clear' water does not necessarily mean I have water that is healthy for the fish...humans however are not prone to problems that koi have with concentrations of nitrates in the water...I have become familiar with the smell of the water...when my pond is in good balance there is a pleasant "lake" smell to the water...waste in anerobic pockets disturbed at the bottom waft up a sulfur smell...

I gotta gotta gotta do some more research on water removed from pond and doubled filered and/or boiled.

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), November 07, 1998.

Well I can see that the 1700.00 purchase of the pool we got this summer MAY come in handy. God knows the children WONT swim in it. LOL I am now calling it our "$1,700 bird bath" Ours holds approx 5500 gallons of water. Okay here is a question...Blessed are those in the south, I am in the north. It getssss COLD and layup is in Sept - May usually. Any suggestions on what to do with the 1700 birdbath when it is still cold? If this goes onto summer, cool, lots of uses. But in Jan it will be frozen solid.

-- consumer alert (private@aol.com), November 07, 1998.

Above ground pool I'm assuming, can't see it from here 8<).

If it's outside, and if the weather is cold enough long long to keep it frozen, I can't think of anything but ice skating.

Could it be moved into the garage or a shed, where it would be warm enough to stay above freezing?

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), November 07, 1998.

LOL Robert......My cookie name should tell my story actually shoudl read consumer idiot for buying the dumb thing in the 1st place. So much for "i wanna give my kids what i never had"....At any rate, yes above ground. When "they" installed it., they bought forth mini bulldozers to level the ground. Trust me, it AINT going back to the garage. Ice skating, good idea. By george i got it, when the looters arrive, I can offer them an all nite skate party for free. And as they are carting off my WODDEN privacy fence for firewood I can relax just knowing that the pool, birdbath, whatever shall be safe????? Time for some humor.

-- consumer alert (prviate@aol.com), November 07, 1998.

Type o's man i ought to stay off the zanex. Wooden privacy fence to update and private @aol.com . Is there any spell check here? Geez I hope the teachers dont come in here i'm toast.

-- consumer alert (private@aol.com), November 07, 1998.

i wouldn't dream of using pool water with its regular chemicals, same with jacuzzi or waterbed water. late next year i'd plan on putting fresh water in, with only chlorine in small amounts, no other chemicals. check with your pool chemical company for the chemical composition of the stuff that normally goes in your pool--you might be surprised by all the extra stuff they put in it.

-- Jocelyne Slough (jonslough@tln.net), November 13, 1998.

Clear pool water...water...

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), November 13, 1998.