Pool filler line water smells

[jlamb5990]

Our PB added a filler line that come out of one of our skimmer basket spots and it is T’d off of the hose bib by our equipment pad. It’s a 1” pvc line and it’s honestly nice to not have to drag the hose to the pool when I need to top off every month or so. Lately though over the summer I’ve been noticing a terrible smell (like rotten eggs/sulfur) smell from the water when I use that line. I’m assuming it’s just stagnant water that was sitting in the line along with any bugs or dirt that washed in between fills but it’s a pretty rotten smell. Usually goes away after a few minutes and doesn’t linger into the pool water later on.

It got me thinking though, is there any harm of this nasty smelling water going into the pool as far as chemical balance and algae production? Should I just use the hose instead to be safe or am I overthinking this? Thanks!

 

[JoyfulNoise]

A picture of the plumbing setup would help but I suspect that if the line was buried then proper grading wasn’t maintained. This means that water stays trapped in the line and becomes stagnant and nasty. It’s going to be bacteria that causes it.

I would suggest figuring out a way to flush the line with some chlorinated water to kill anything growing in there. And then going forward you should be using the refilling line more frequently than monthly. It doesn’t take more than a few days for water to become very stagnant so you might want to run the line daily even if it’s for just a few short minutes.

 

[jlamb5990]

A picture of the plumbing setup would help but I suspect that if the line was buried then proper grading wasn’t maintained. This means that water stays trapped in the line and becomes stagnant and nasty. It’s going to be bacteria that causes it.

I would suggest figuring out a way to flush the line with some chlorinated water to kill anything growing in there. And then going forward you should be using the refilling line more frequently than monthly. It doesn’t take more than a few days for water to become very stagnant so you might want to run the line daily even if it’s for just a few short minutes.

Yep that’s what I figured. Its a short run from the pool to the equipment for line but I’m guessing the grading is flat at best, definitely not enough slope. Circled in red is the source off the T and the blue line in the other pic is where it runs to the ground. I’m guessing water is trapped in that line somewhere, maybe toward where the pad is, and getting baked in the sun and growing bacteria.

I probably do need to run the line at least every other day I guess. I’m spoiled because the rain in the south does a good job of keeping the pool full most months, but it’s better to flush the line for sanitary purposes even if it’s not really needed to fill anything.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Just my unprofessional amateur plumbers opinion but that hookup would not pass code in my part of the country. The line coming out of your wall is considered “potable” water. If you plan to use the plumbing for anything other than attaching a garden hose to it, then code in a lot of areas would require the installation of some kind of anti-siphon valve. Some areas call them back-flow preventers. The theory is that there is an off chance that something running at high flow rate on that line could cause a siphon effect and actually pull water back into the household plumbing. That could then cause contamination issues. So anything that is hooked up to an outside spigot line is required to have an anti-siphon valve, and sometimes a pressure reducing valve. Code may vary where you are but in my neck of the woods, that installation would cause an inspector to fail the builder/plumber.

Not that an anti siphon valve would fix your problem but, since you’re already having bacterial contamination issues on that line, an anti-siphon setup would protect your household plumbing from contamination.

As far as running it everyday, you could have an 24V sprinkler valve attached to that line and then use your automation panel to control the valve. Then the automation could be programmed to run the fill line every other day or so for a minute or two. A minute is only going to add a few gallons of water (maybe) and that will be more than adequate to keep the line flushed.

 

[jlamb5990]

Just my unprofessional amateur plumbers opinion but that hookup would not pass code in my part of the country. The line coming out of your wall is considered “potable” water. If you plan to use the plumbing for anything other than attaching a garden hose to it, then code in a lot of areas would require the installation of some kind of anti-siphon valve. Some areas call them back-flow preventers. The theory is that there is an off chance that something running at high flow rate on that line could cause a siphon effect and actually pull water back into the household plumbing. That could then cause contamination issues. So anything that is hooked up to an outside spigot line is required to have an anti-siphon valve, and sometimes a pressure reducing valve. Code may vary where you are but in my neck of the woods, that installation would cause an inspector to fail the builder/plumber.

Not that an anti siphon valve would fix your problem but, since you’re already having bacterial contamination issues on that line, an anti-siphon setup would protect your household plumbing from contamination.

As far as running it everyday, you could have an 24V sprinkler valve attached to that line and then use your automation panel to control the valve. Then the automation could be programmed to run the fill line every other day or so for a minute or two. A minute is only going to add a few gallons of water (maybe) and that will be more than adequate to keep the line flushed.

Sorry forgot to add that info and I don’t have a good picture on my phone. I’ll get one tomorrow. There is a shutoff valve at the T right before the pool filler line starts to prevent any back flow. I have to open it for the filler line to work, otherwise it’s just pressure going to a normal spigot that operates with a twisty type valve for the hose bib.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Sorry forgot to add that info and I don’t have a good picture on my phone. I’ll get one tomorrow. There is a shutoff valve at the T right before the pool filler line starts to prevent any back flow. I have to open it for the filler line to work, otherwise it’s just pressure going to a normal spigot that operates with a twisty type valve for the hose bib.

No, I saw the 1/4 turn shutoff. Even that fails code for anti siphon. There has to be a backflow prevention device on the line at all times for when the valve is open, not when it’s closed. Around here, they make homeowners install these little anti siphon caps that go on the end of the spigot where you attach a garden hose to prevent backflow. Plumbers are required to put them on and then snap off the little steel set screw that locks it into the threads so it can’t be removed. And, when you sell home around here, all outdoor spigots have to have them and any anti-siphon valves need to be tested by an independent plumber in order to pass home inspection.

If you install any kind of automated fill valve on that line, then you really want to add backflow prevention for peace of mind. It’s just the most prudent thing to do.

Your choice anyway, just giving you a heads up in case there is any code requirements in your area.