Anyone else having trouble with extremely low water level so far this summer?

[anthonypool89]

If I didn't know better I'd swear I have a leak. I've bucket tested before over the years and never seems to point to more than ordinary loss from evaporation. Like much of the US, here in PA we had the unusually long heat wave, and then yesterday all day was extremely windy at our place, so I'm betting that a good part of what I added was lost.

I trickle it in slowly from the hose being that we have a well and submersible pump, so I don't add alot at any one time. Still, seems like I'm barely keeping up with it. At this point I'm basically running from the drain. Even turning the skimmer diverter valve to the halfway position winds up basically sucking air. I'd say there's only about 1/2 to 3/4" of water in the skimmer opening at this point.

What happened though was that the water level was already below normal operating level (about halfway up on the tiles) when I started end of last month. And, since then I've had to backwash 3 times already.

So far this month we've only gotten .87" of rain. Hopefully some thunderstorms are going to roll through here tomorrow. If I'd have to backwash right now I'd be in trouble, so hoping the filter pressure keeps going without needing new DE. Surely if this drop in water - if other than evaporation - continues, I'll have to check into it further. I think I'll have to bite the bullet and run water at greater volume from the hose. Guess in the final analysis if I trickle it in for 8 hours or run it full for even a quarter of that time, the amount of wear on the pump probably isn't much different. Just hate to have it cycle on and off continuously.

 

[SecoSteve]

You most likely don't have a leak. I am in PA as well and I've topped a couple times already. Fill that pool up with the hose(even though it's on a well, I am too).

What's more concerning is why have you backwashed 3 times THIS year. You most likely have an algae bloom. Your water looks cloudy. Do an OCLT.

 

[proavia]

What's more concerning is why have you backwashed 3 times THIS year. You most likely have an algae bloom. Your water looks cloudy. Do an OCLT.

He's using Baqua and has had 'issues' with water quality for years now.

 

[SecoSteve]

He's using Baqua and has had 'issues' with water quality for years now.

Water quality issues for years? If that doesn't scream to get off Baqua, then I don't know what it will take.

 

[proavia]

Water quality issues for years? If that doesn't scream to get off Baqua, then I don't know what it will take.

You're not the first one to say that. We have tried many times to get the OP to convert to chlorine.

 

[nuttyp]

As to cloudiness, you might also consider the quality of the well water. In my area (SW FL) some of our shallower wells, and some that tap different aquafers, have high concentrations of iron together with that beloved sulfur smell. And who knows whatever else that could cloud water. I added a hefty iron filter tank which helped.

Among the wells I've owned I've never heard of anyone slowing water flow to save wear and tear on the pump. Seems logical that the total volume used/needed will run the pump the same amount of time whether or not you trickle fill. You might actually reduce cycling by running wide open if you have a big enough pipe & hose. With high enough volume on the pool filling pipe, you might never reach the switch cut-off pressure, or at least less often. In any case, to me the pool is the priority.

About the "leak", I think comparative input from folks in your area is best such as what you saw from @SecoSteve, perhaps in addition to bucket tests. During hot/dry seasons here (~Jan-April) I probably add 100-200 gallons per week, an inch or two depending on the plethora of other weather factors.

 

[Newdude]

I've filled a couple inches twice in the last month. It's been sunny and windy but the nights have been cool and also windy. It's evap city.

 

[anthonypool89]

Thanks for replies. I cranked up the hose for a few hours. Level is much better now.

Water was cloudy during almost this exact same time last year also, and then clears up again nicely. It was real clear up until the start of the heat wave. Typically looks like this most of the season...



But here was last year, early July....feels just as good on a hot day! Actually it's a bit worse now than in this picture, but no big deal. Farmer has been working on the fields alot as usual - cutting, baling, etc. - closest is less than 30 feet away from the side of the pool. The pool was drenched in hay (literally) and whatever else blew over this way. That hasn't stopped, being that it's been very windy. I've been pulling hay and weeds from the field out of the skimmer every day. This happens every year around this time. Life surrounded by farms (on every side) here in rural Berks County!

 

[anthonypool89]

You most likely don't have a leak. I am in PA as well and I've topped a couple times already. Fill that pool up with the hose(even though it's on a well, I am too).

Thanks! Took your advice. I've always heard you "can't save a well" anyway. Plenty of water down there I'm sure, although I do worry more than I used to since a development went in not too far down the road from our place - all on wells also. Seems our water table has dropped at least judging by how dry the flower beds - if such is any valid indication (compared to before there were any houses). But, I suppose we're all on different veins and depths anyway.

 

[anthonypool89]

What's more concerning is why have you backwashed 3 times THIS year.

No real big deal either. Last year was about 8-9 times total. Figure the first two DE charges were used just to clear up the pool, which was dark GREEN when I opened this time. Stinky swamp. Unusually so. Used to be as many as 19 DE changes before I started using Line Clean (MPS) and a set regimen of when I add Clarifier and Line Clean alternately, as well as Ahhsome, along with the other regular baqua products. No secret that baqua and DE filters are not the cosiest of bedmates. Sand is better I believe, as least judging from my friend's pool. He and I started with chlorine and both used it for about 10 years, and then switched to baqua for the past 24 years. LONG story. All documented in the dusty archives here somewhere.

 

[MikeD842]

If I didn't know better I'd swear I have a leak. I've bucket tested before over the years and never seems to point to more than ordinary loss from evaporation. Like much of the US, here in PA we had the unusually long heat wave, and then yesterday all day was extremely windy at our place, so I'm betting that a good part of what I added was lost.

I trickle it in slowly from the hose being that we have a well and submersible pump, so I don't add alot at any one time. Still, seems like I'm barely keeping up with it. At this point I'm basically running from the drain. Even turning the skimmer diverter valve to the halfway position winds up basically sucking air. I'd say there's only about 1/2 to 3/4" of water in the skimmer opening at this point.

What happened though was that the water level was already below normal operating level (about halfway up on the tiles) when I started end of last month. And, since then I've had to backwash 3 times already.

So far this month we've only gotten .87" of rain. Hopefully some thunderstorms are going to roll through here tomorrow. If I'd have to backwash right now I'd be in trouble, so hoping the filter pressure keeps going without needing new DE. Surely if this drop in water - if other than evaporation - continues, I'll have to check into it further. I think I'll have to bite the bullet and run water at greater volume from the hose. Guess in the final analysis if I trickle it in for 8 hours or run it full for even a quarter of that time, the amount of wear on the pump probably isn't much different. Just hate to have it cycle on and off continuously.

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I’m in PA too - Delaware County. Also on a well and have had to refill a lot too so I think it’s normal. I run mine wide open for a few hours in a clip and never had any well issues.