tejon

I would like to use the water from backwashing the pool for the garden rather than it going to waste.

I know the water is full of stuff like dirt / dust and Chemicals, but I was thinking of getting one of those big square plistic containers (by the way how muh are they ?) and putting the backwash into that.

Maybe after a week the nasty stuff will have settled and I can use the top water or maybe there are tablets to add to neurtalise it, or maybe the plants wont give a damm and I can use it neat ?

Sure this is not a first time idea ??

jdr

The chlorine will probable kill everything in the garden.

EsuriJohn

Someone just posted that they were using backwash water for their lemon trees and they now have no leaves on. Chlorine is a really nasty disinfectant chemical so I wouldn't use it on plants unless they are known to be resistant.

twyntub

Most people here just empty their pool directly to irrigate the garden - in fact most pools simply run their drain straight into the garden anyway.

If was that full of nasty chemicals and dirt, I don't think you'd really want to be swimming in it would you?!

If you're concerned about the chlorine / pH levels (it's the pH that will probably do more harm), then just leave the pool to stand for a week and nature will soon correct the pH / chlorine for you.

Jules Europe

Know of somebody that just cut the pool drainage pipe so that it now irrigates part of his garden when he backwashes the pool. The only thing he has got to remember is to reconnect that pipe if he decides to drain the pool

petew

In my area (Altea) sometimes, especially after its rained heavily. I think the tap water has extra chlorine added - I have tested the tap water at 3 ppm (part per million) - 3 times the recommended level for a pool! People still use it for watering their garden. As for the Ph if you have your pool at the recommended 7.0 to 7.6 that is just slightly alkaline - the tap water round here has a Ph of about 8.0.

In other words the tap water people use to water their gardens is more likely to damage them than pool water (assuming the pool chemicals are kept approximately correct).

Fuzzlepop

^^^what he said, just check your EC and PH. If PH is to high add some vinegar and if EC is to high then don't use it. I know someone who does this with their pool water.

IONman

The ider of pumping your water into a tank is good so long as it has no cover, the chlorine will soon dissappear and the dirt will settle.
Try and maintain yoiur pool with minimal stabiliser 'Cyanuric Acid' as this locks chlorine in and actually stops it working if the level gets too high.

remember chlorine is actually a gas and other chemicals need to be included to maintain a residual in the pool.

Some people are now changeing to ion/oxydation systems that manufacture a copper residual enabling it to be used on plants without any problems and actually enhances their growth.

Regards, Dave

crispy

we use our backwash water for the plants and they seem fine, so after doing this for 3 years we decided to try last year on the laawn, we no longer have a lawn

IONman

Oh dear,
I guess you didn't pump it into a holding take first.

If you pumped it into a holding tank first you could allow the chlorine to dissipate and then it should be OK.

Regards, Dave

jdr

Same happened to ours, but the cause was two bitch Labs. lol

crispy

No we didn't

I know the feeling Mal keeps me tied up. but don't reply coz we need to keep on track.

The lawn just did not recover, but then it was such a dry summer it could have been that. With all the rain we just have grren weeds now.

Dave how big a tank are you talking?

jdr

The grass will return to green with the sun, it goes dry and brown with all the rain and dodgy watering. ;-))

crispy

Mal's out in the garden as we speak digging it up, he said enough is enough, I think I am now expect to grow some veg

bil

A pH of 8 to 8.4 wouldn't bother me in the slightest, it usually indicates a high level of the bicarbonate ion HCO3- which is healthy, and good for man and beast. The only plants that wouldn't like that would be those that need very soft water.

Our water is as hard as hell. It's soft water that is supposed to be bad for you, because it is alleged to be linked negatively with health issues.

Plus I think soft water tastes foul.