Drinking Pool Water

[CosmicMiami]

So we're approaching storm season again here in SoFla. Last year, after Irma, we didn't have our pool. We were without power for about 4 days. I'm planning ahead this year.

With my SWG pool, without power for a couple days, obviously there will be no chlorine generation and no filtering. I'm guessing that it would be good to dump some liquid Cl in the pool if we're without power for more than a couple days. Obviously it would need to be mixed manually but that wouldn't be a big problem as the pool would be a welcome relief without AC!

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Oh crop, forgot about the initial topic. We're good about preparing and stocking for a few days without power and water. Even though there was never a boil water notice after Irma, I'm wondering about using pool water as a drinking source. Just a thought really. As I said, we are well stocked with bottled water during storm season.

Would properly maintained pool water be a reasonable drinking source when water is scarce?

 

[Rollercoastr]

I wouldn't under normal circumstances, but since you plan to elevate FC levels during the outage, I'd definitely stock up on bottled! Pool water is great for flushing toilets though.

 

[chawkins99]

I would be more concerned about the salt levels than chlorine levels. Most tap water is chlorinated anyway.

I've looked into this before but could never find a definitive answer to acceptable levels of salt in drinking water.

 

[Oly]

Emergency drinking water during an outage can be found in your water heater and toilet tank (not bowl please) but best to keep some filled gallon jugs around for this.
Look into getting a reverse osmosis camping water filter.....Katadyn Vario Water Filter at REI
With a R\O pump filter you could drink your pool water.

 

[EmilyOTR]

I would drink it from a Berkey.

 

[borjis]

The salt level should be ok. It's nowhere near ocean salinity with swg pools. If you search the topic
there are a few threads that discuss it. The main issue being CYA levels. It's been said that it's
not good for people to drink it.

 

[chawkins99]

According to the EPA:

At the present time the EPA guidance level for sodium in drinking water is 20 mg/L.

The average SWG pool would be 150 times the recommended level.

 

[Phillbo]

I don't even let my dog drink the pool water.

 

[funandsun]

Yeah, would have to be in a situation I have never encountered. Hope I never do. Hope no one ever does.

I don't even let my dog drink the pool water.

 

[Donldson]

If it has been maintained and chlorinated then yes, it would work in an actual emergency. This would be after all other potable water has been used and there is no other options. Yes, the salt will be high but given the choice between that and a muddy puddle, I would certainly drink pool water.

More useful is to use it as a source of "gray water". Use it for flushing toilets, for bathing (bring a bucket of water in, don't use it as a tub), and washing dishes. This way you aren't using potable water for these chores so you shouldn't get to a point where pool water is your only option for drinking.

 

[Flbeachluvr]

I'm in Central Florida and we've been through two hurricanes now with our pool. We stock up on bottled water at the beginning of the season for drinking.

As far as the pool goes, in the past I've drained down the water and turned off the valve to the skimmer before a storm hits. In anticipation of losing power I've also used liquid chlorine from the pool store to get the pool almost up to SLAM level. So far we've been lucky and never lost power for more than a day and a half. If we did, I do make sure to have extra chlorine on hand in case I need to manually dose for a few days. Other than a lot of debris in the pool (we are un-screened) we've come through very well. I did buy a leaf rake after the last hurricane which should help with the leaves, etc. that we ended up with.

 

[CosmicMiami]

Thanks for all the replies. I was just putting it out there for discussion. I am always well prepared during storm season.