Pool water to irrigate: How low FC?

[David Bay Area CA]

Hi,

I’m newly in SF bay area. My house has fresh water pool with a CYA of 70. My thought was to use pool water to water the numerous trees and plants (no grass) and slowly dilute out the CYA to 50 over the summer. So my question:

1. How low does the FC need to be used on plants? Would something lowish, like and FC of 1 be ok? I know what website say--none-- but realistically what would still be acceptable?

Thanks

 

[ajw22]

Your pool water has chlorine, salt, stabilizer, and other chemicals that plants may not like.

It depends on the specific plants and the chemical levels if your plants will like watering with the pool.

 

[David Bay Area CA]

Well, there's a water shortage over here. I just can't imagine dumping that water in the sewer. I"m willing to take some risk. But I'm interested in hearing of anyone who does routinely or at least once in a while.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Either measure the salinity of the water yourself or ask a pool store to. If the water has a lot of chloride in it then it also has a lot of sodium in it. As @ajw22 was referring to, you will drastically increase the sodicity of the soil around planting and possible kill the plants in the process. Too much sodium is very bad for plants.

Your not “wasting” water sending it to the sewer. It will likely go into the sanitary waste line and just be reprocessed and discharged. The water is spent and you have no use for it so let the municipality take it away and safely discharge it.

 

[Ahultin]

My house has fresh water pool with a CYA of 70

Have you considered converting to a swg? Cya of 70 is perfect , no water change expense and the swg will pay for itself in saved chlorine over the next couple years