Is it safe to drink pool water?

[Piggpen75]

I was just thinking the other night that I have 6,606 gallons of fresh water in my back yard. I keep it lightly chlorinated, but at a safe level. Nothing like the eye burning public pools. Any thoughts on if you could/ should drink it in a pinch? How would you purify it if need be so it was potable?

[EliFrankenear]

I'm not a water expert by any means and am hoping someone who is will chime in on this thread.

That said, I would imagine if filtered and/or boiled the pool water should be good to drink...

[ineffableone]

I was just thinking the other night that I have 6,606 gallons of fresh water in my back yard. I keep it lightly chlorinated, but at a safe level. Nothing like the eye burning public pools. Any thoughts on if you could/ should drink it in a pinch? How would you purify it if need be so it was potable?

Yes pool water is generally drinkable, that is why you chlorinate it, to keep the buggies and stuff from growing in it. How many times have you drunk water from your pool while swimming, probably pretty often, it happens.

Even without filtering and boiling the chlorinated pool water is pretty much safe to drink.

That said putting it through a filter, or boiling would not be a bad thing. Only down sides to this added protection is it would shorten the life of your filter, and boiling would spend fuel and evaporate some water.

For me, I would drink straight from the pool as long as you keep it skimmed and chlorinated. Of course in SHTF you might not have power to run a pool filter pump, so things might start to build up with out the circulation. However the choice is yours. Extra precaution might be a good idea and if the water isn't moving and being filtered, then you might want to filter or boil.

[Piggpen75]

Still good to know I have a potable 6000 gallon water supply out back now. Yay!

[Blacksmith]

Before you get too excited you might want to consider that as soon as the filter dies the water quality will begin to deteriorate. Highly toxic algae will begin to grow and the chlorine will begin to break down. If you cover the pool right away with a cover that does not allow in sunlight this will help preserve water quality to a degree. Try to think of all the bugs and what not you have found in your pool filter and that is what you are up against as well.

I would not drink pool water unless it was filtered for drinking in any case. However it would be awesome for flushing toilets, general cleanup, washing clothes and a bunch of other uses.

[raptor]

There are several threads dealing with this matter. The chlorine is not a problem. in fact if you take care of your own pool you will remember that you have to add chlorine routinely to keep the level high enough for disinfectant purposes. So over a few days especially in the summer the chlorine will dissipate.

Pool water should be both safe to drink and even if it is dirty it whole lot easier to clean up than say water with unknown contaminants.

That said there are things to consider for instance:

Algaecides for pools are not meant to be ingested by humans and most are for pools and not potable water supply. These may or may not be toxic (depending upon concentration levels) to mamals/humans.

Stabilizers and similar pool chemicals again are designed for pool usage.

That does not mean using these precludes using the water for potable purposes. Again these dissipate over time and may or may not be at dangerous levels. Thus in a SHTF situation you may want to eliminate the use of anything except chlorine to keep the pool clean. That and allow the chlorine level to get lower than normal pool levels (say .5ppm or below).

If you incorporate your pool into your potable water supplies you also should have a means of filtering the water. Your pool sand filter is a great device for that assuming you have power AND the water intakes are low enough to deal with a low water level.

You can also look to these threads for advice:
viewtopic.php?f=89&t=53446

[ITZombie]

I've looked into this since we have a pool. There are a few issues -

1) sunlight breaks down chlorine. If you're pump isn't running you're not putting significant chlorine in the system. This leads to the green pool effect quickly. This can be offset as long as you have a lot of chlorox or pool shock on hand and are willing to get in the water and circulate it by swimming, treading, whatever.

2) over the course of the pools lifespan, unless it's completely drained and refilled with fresh, the minerals and chemicals in it that aren't UV volatile are continually concentrated over time. This can lead to toxic levels of these things. probably not fatal but you may not be happy when your pool water is your only source of drinking water for an extended time.

3) algacides, fungacides, not really great to drink long term.

4) it's hard to hide your pool from any neighbors, they're likely to know you have one by now. They're also likely to want some if the water's down and they're dying of thirst.

5) above ground pools aren't necessarily the most secure containers for water, it would suck to go out one morning and find the wall had collapse on it's own or because some neighbor was trying to fill a 5 gallon bucket over the side and leaned too heavily on it.

With all that said, our pool is definitely on the table for cleaning ourselves, clothing and other items. We keep a lot of pool shock on hand, it has a shelf life of a couple of years and can be used to sterilize drinking water the same as chlorox which has a 6 month shelf life typically. But we also have multiple filter solutions as well as a solar powered distillery.

We also have tarps and rain barrels to make catches for a cleaner source of water and can catch the water off the roofs.

If our water stock runs out, you can bet we'll be drinking the pool water in one fashion or another. If the options are certain death by dehydration or maybe death due to chemical laden water, we're going with option b.

But I would urge anyone considering their pool as their SHTF water supply to appoint it a secondary supply at best.

[Piggpen75]

Great replies! It would really stretch a 100 gallon supply if you didn't have to use it forvanything but drinking. I think that's what my plan will be.

[TN-Shooter]

Have ya'll seen the movie Carriers? Remember the pool scene when he about falls in, off the diving board?

I would have that scene in the back of my head anytime I drank out of a pool during apocalypse.

[raptor]

Have ya'll seen the movie Carriers? Remember the pool scene when he about falls in, off the diving board?

I would have that scene in the back of my head anytime I drank out of a pool during apocalypse.

Honestly during a SHTF event you should be very careful about any water you use to drink, cook, brush your teeth or otherwise may ingest. I would plan on treating water twice (chemical/filter, heat/filter) especially if there is a water borne disease outbreak like cholera afoot. There is nothing that will make you sick/kill you faster than tainted water.

That said water is used for many things like cleaning and bathing that does not involve potable water. I would not hesitate a second to use pool water for cleaning clothes. This will save potable water for human/animal consumption.

[MacWa77ace]

Very good list of concerns here:

I've looked into this since we have a pool. There are a few issues -

1) sunlight breaks down chlorine. If you're pump isn't running you're not putting significant chlorine in the system. This leads to the green pool effect quickly. This can be offset as long as you have a lot of chlorox or pool shock on hand and are willing to get in the water and circulate it by swimming, treading, whatever.

Don't worry about adding chlorine to the pool, if the power is out it won't dispurse, so don't do it at all. Treat the pool like a pond water supply at that point and add chlorine to water you've transfered from pool to your portable drinking water container or do whatever your decontamination procedure for water is. Plus if your not taking showers don't contaminate your drinking supply by swimming in it. Keep the big crap/debris out by using a net/skimmer. Save the chlorine for your rain barrels.

2) over the course of the pools lifespan, unless it's completely drained and refilled with fresh, the minerals and chemicals in it that aren't UV volatile are continually concentrated over time. This can lead to toxic levels of these things. probably not fatal but you may not be happy when your pool water is your only source of drinking water for an extended time.

Calcium, Salt, and Copper are the ones that come to mind, but while evaporation may concentrate those chemicals, rain refills re-establishes them in the correct balance for the most part. And if you're draining/drinking/using and rain is refillinig, probably wouldn't worry about it at all. If you're talking about toxins from rainwater in a PAW then a spring will be the only safe source.

3) algacides, fungacides, not really great to drink long term.

Not to worry, you won't be adding them if the power is out and your pool is essentially a pond, they will dissapate. Not a long term issue.

4) it's hard to hide your pool from any neighbors, they're likely to know you have one by now. They're also likely to want some if the water's down and they're dying of thirst.

5) above ground pools aren't necessarily the most secure containers for water, it would suck to go out one morning and find the wall had collapse on it's own or because some neighbor was trying to fill a 5 gallon bucket over the side and leaned too heavily on it.

Protect your water supply just like your food supply. Maybe even use it for trade with the neighbors you like. It will refill with rain unless you live in the desert.

With all that said, our pool is definitely on the table for cleaning ourselves, clothing and other items. We keep a lot of pool shock on hand, it has a shelf life of a couple of years and can be used to sterilize drinking water the same as chlorox which has a 6 month shelf life typically. But we also have multiple filter solutions as well as a solar powered distillery.

We also have tarps and rain barrels to make catches for a cleaner source of water and can catch the water off the roofs.

If our water stock runs out, you can bet we'll be drinking the pool water in one fashion or another. If the options are certain death by dehydration or maybe death due to chemical laden water, we're going with option b.

But I would urge anyone considering their pool as their SHTF water supply to appoint it a secondary supply at best.

I'm using mine as the main after initial stored water runs out. I live in Florida and we have a lot of evaportation but right now I have to keep draining it we're gettin' so much rain.

Your pool water is probably as safe as your tap water, but if your concerned you can get your pool water tested for contaminates now before the SHTF; there are companies that will test your tap water, just send the pool water sample to them to see what's up with it. They look at it like its drinking water not pool water like a pool store does, and look for things like heavy metals, etc. [don't use a company that sells filters, 'cause they will definetly find poison in the water so you'll by a filter.] They do charge a fee. Your local water company may even provide that service.

Eventually it will stagnate and become unpotable though.

[ineffableone]

BTW there are a few different solar pool devices that can be picked up for your pool cleaning needs. There are solar pool skimmers, and solar pool filters. While they can be a bit pricey $200-$300 range, they would be able to work after the grid goes down as long as an EMP doesn't knock them out too. Products like this can help in SHTF, but also help in the current use of your pool. For example the Floatron Natural Pool Cleaner reduces the use of chlorine by up to 80% which means less buying chlorine, storing it, replacing it, etc. I looked into these while living at an Architecture community in AZ and was in charge of pool maintenance. However we didn't end up using it due to the county regulations would still require us to keep using all the chlorine. However for a private pool they would work really well as long as you have a decent amount of sun where your pool is.

[Piggpen75]

I just checked the solar thing out... It the extra copper in the water an issue?

[MacWa77ace]

I just checked the solar thing out... It the extra copper in the water an issue?

No, here's why I don't think it is.
The suggested safe level of copper in drinking water for humans varies depending on the reference source, but tends to average out at 2.0 mg/l. Copper is an ingredient in some pool algaecides. Recommended followup algaecide treatment for pools is 2oz at 7% copper/10,000 gallons.

That's
.14(28.3495)=4 grams/10,000 gallons.
10000(3.7853)=37,853 litres =0.00010567 g/l.
If I did my math correctly and got the decimals and conversions right. [.002 g/l being the average recomended safe level]

Most heavy metals are toxic to humans at certain levels. And the metals in swimming pools will vary by region based on whats getting put into the atmosphere in your AO. If you live in an area that has a factory pumping arsenic up its smokestacks you may see some show up in your pool water. Most charcoal filters will take these out. But like i said before, if you're concerned, get the pool water tested by a drinking water testing company now. I think pool water as a drinking water source is a viable medium term solution.

BTW: In Florida, some people shock their pools right before a hurricaine is going to hit. [The ones who don't aren't prep minded i guess.] This dispurses the chlorine in the pool in case there is a power outage. If you have any advanced notice of a possible long term power outage shock your pool.

[ZombieGranny]

Peeking in...
Just want to mention (per point #4) it's much easier to hide a hot tub or three.

Sneaking back out...

[ineffableone]

Peeking in...
Just want to mention (per point #4) it's much easier to hide a hot tub or three.

Sneaking back out...

LOL, I don't know any people who have 3 hot tubs in their back yard. Though it might be easier to hide those, it might be hard to explain multi hot tubs without looking a bit odd.

At that point, instead of a couple extra hot tubs, you would be better served buying some sort of cistern and burying it.

But the OP already has a pool and is looking at it as a potential water source, not looking to go buy one as a covert water source.

[ZombieGranny]

I've known quite a few people with 2 hot tubs.
A smaller one off the master bedroom for mom and dad (off limits to the rest of the family) and a larger one outside the playroom for the kids to splash in.
Always seemed like a good idea to me.

[ineffableone]

I've known quite a few people with 2 hot tubs.
A smaller one off the master bedroom for mom and dad (off limits to the rest of the family) and a larger one outside the playroom for the kids to splash in.
Always seemed like a good idea to me.

Ok that does make sense. I had never seen such a set up, but it does make sense. For some reason I imagined a bunch of hot tubs out in the back yard and the neighbour peeking over the fence thinking you must be trying to recreate the Playboy mansion.

[Feeney]

One dead raccoon in your pool and it's fowled. That was the advice I gave my brother in law when he didn't think he needed water storage because he has a pool (unlimited water supply if SHTF).

[cap6888]

I have about 8000 gallons with my pool. I also have approximately 70 gallons of potable water for consumption (working on more). In a true SHTF, I plan on immediately covering the pool. This prevents raccoons, and possible prying eyes. Yes, people may see the pool, but if its covered, they may think twice about trying to access it. Covering the pool also prevents algae growth since it keeps out sunlight. The pool water will serve as grey water first, and if necessary, be filtered/purified for potable water.

[MaconCJ7]

http://www.hiddenwaterpools.com

Without power you'd be arsed out, but you can hook it up to a solar system.

Pre-PAW, better efficiency with chemicals, cleaning, and heating. Post-PAW, it helps keep the nasty's out, so long as you can raise and lower the floor.

[gustovski]

pool is great for non-consumption needs like bathing and cleaning
for drinking the chemicals won't do you much good but will stop algae which is worse
bottom line invest in a rain water tank especially if in rural area

[Regular Guy]

http://modernsurvivalblog.com/preps/dri ... emergency/

I found this. Seems the solution to chlorine is filtering. From a medical stand point I can't ignore ingesting large amounts of chlorine. That could lead to health issues.
Short term, sure, drink up. Long term filter or use only for bathing. Kidney problems in the paw would suck. There may not be a lot of qualified surgeons milling about with surgical studios.

http://www.troublefreepool.com/pool-wat ... t3716.html
Here's a discussion from some pool peeps.

[Papabear]

It may be safe to drink, but have plenty of Toilet Paper.
I was swimming across my parents backyard above ground pool when my friend cannon balled into me. Knocked the air out and I swallowed a glass full.
That day and the rest of the week I was running to the bathroom.
The family doctor said that it was the chlorine in the water.

I think that I'd boil it in a container and distill the water first.

Papabear