Closing your pool soon?
With summer coming to an end, you may be getting ready to close your pool for the season. Did you know chemicals used to keep pool water clean can be toxic to the environment, fish and organisms that live in creeks, rivers and Lake Ontario – the source of Vaughan’s drinking water? That’s why the City of Vaughan is equipping you with the best ways to drain your pool safely:
Never drain chlorinated water, saltwater or excess pool or hot tub chemicals into a catch basin – this drain is connected to the storm sewer system and is located on the road beside the curb. Only rainwater should enter the storm sewer system as the water is not treated before travelling back into the environment.
The best way to dispose of water from both chlorine and saltwater pools, including backwash water from the filter, is onto the lawn surrounding your property ONLY if the following conditions are met:
- The water has a pH greater than 6.0 and less than 9.0.
- The water is dechlorinated before discharging.
- The water is free of debris, vegetation or algae.
- The private residence does not back onto a ravine or valley.
- The water can be properly absorbed into the lawn. You must consider the slope and surface of your property and the rate with which the water is removed and absorbed into the ground to ensure it does not run toward your home or your neighbour’s property.
As the owner of a private swimming pool, hot tub or spa, you or any company you hire have a responsibility and legal obligation to safely maintain and operate your pool, hot tub or spa in compliance with the City’s Sewer Use By-law 130-2022 (PDF). Under this by-law, pool water must be safely discharged onto the lawn surrounding your home. Homeowners or the hired company could face fines or other penalties for improper disposal of pool water.
Leftover or expired pool, hot tub or spa chemicals are household hazardous waste in Vaughan and are not collected curbside. You must dispose of these products at any one of York Region’s Waste Depots. The Vaughan location is at 130 McCleary Crt.
For more information on pool water or chemical disposal, or to report a spill or unintended discharge into the storm sewer system, call the City at 905-832-2281 or email at accessvaughan@vaughan.ca, or the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks at 416-325-3000 (toll-free: 1-800-268-6060), TTY: 1-855-889-5775. To report a spill or unintended discharge, you can also fill out the online form from the Corporate Compliance Governance Officer’s office.
Want to learn more about the City’s storm sewer system? Watch this video on the City’s YouTube channel. For more information on pool water disposal, visit vaughan.ca/wastewater.
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