Pools and hot tubs

On this page:

If you own a pool or hot tub, you know the enjoyment they can provide. It is also important to maintain your pool and hot tub properly to protect and conserve our community's water supply.

Water saving tips

Reducing the amount of water you use can save you money and help ensure an adequate supply of water for our growing community. 

Know your outdoor watering day

Do you know the times you can fill and top up your pool and hot tub? The Water Conservation By-law 07-069 provides every property with a time for outdoor watering to help reduce demands on our water supply and distribution system. Find your outdoor watering time.

Reduce evaporation

Evaporation is a leading cause of water loss. Water loss from evaporation can result from different factors including temperature, humidity and wind speed.

  • Cover your pool when not in use
  • Lower the temperature if heating your pool
  • Reducing running time of water falls and other water features
  • When adding water, only fill to halfway up the skimmer

Maintain good water quality

Filter backwashing and controlling total dissolved solids (TDS) can contribute to significant water loss. Keeping a pool free of debris and microbes can reduce corrosion, decrease the risk of developing leaks, and increase the longevity of your pool water.

  • Regularly clean pool liner if you have one
  • Regularly test water quality
  • Use a high-performance filter to remove debris and clean and replace it as soon as needed
  • Treat water with ozone, ultraviolet light, copper-silver ionizers, reverse osmosis, or consider nanofiltration

Check for leaks

Your pool can lose water from a silent leak. Look for leaks in areas such as pool line, pump seal, pool piping, pool-to-pipe connection, pool edges and pipe joints.

  • Perform regular inspections and fix leaks as they occur
  • Check all connections when opening the pool as seals can loosen over the winter
  • Winterize your pool
    • Clean the pool water and all parts of the pool
    • Balance out pool chemicals, and add winterization chemicals such as shock and algaecide to kill bacteria and algae
    • Drain water from equipment such as filters, pumps, heaters and piping

How to recognize a leak:

  • Water level goes down by at last 5 cm per week
  • Wet spots appear around the pool
  • Air bubbles in the water return pipeline or in the pump strainer

Draining your pool or hot tub

You are responsible for the proper discharge of water from your pool or hot tub. This water contains chemicals such as chlorine, bromine, salt and algaecides that can be harmful to the natural environment and our drinking water supply. 

Discharging these chemicals to storm sewers or a waterway is considered an environmental spill and those responsible can be held accountable. To report a spill, contact the Region of Waterloo at 519-650-8200; Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TTY) at 519-575-4608.

Discharging options

Chlorinated water, including backwash

Before discharging, confirm the water is free of debris and test for chlorine. If chlorine is present, you must first dechlorinate the water using dechlorination tablets.

  • Preferred option - discharge onto a permeable surface
    • Discharge to a location on your property such as your lawn
    • Do not impact neighbouring properties
  • Alternative option - discharge to the storm sewer
    • Before discharging to the storm sewer you must first confirm no chlorine or other chemicals are present
    • Do not discharge on a rainy day to reduce strain on the storm sewer system
    • Do not flood roadways, sidewalks or neighbouring properties
  • Alternative option - if possible, discharge to the sanitary sewer by running the hose to a suitable drain inside your home

Salt water, including backwash

 Do not discharge salt water to the storm sewer.

  • Preferred option - hire a Ministry of the Environment, Conservation & Parks (MECP) waste hauler
  • Alternative option - if possible, discharge to the sanitary sewer by running the hose to a suitable drain inside your home

Rain or snow melt from pool covers

  • Preferred option - discharge onto permeable surface on your property.
    • Do not impact neighbouring properties
  • Alternative option - discharge to the storm sewer
    • Ensure water is free of debris
    • Do not discharge on a rainy day to avoid overwhelming the storm sewer system
    • Do not flood roadways, sidewalks or neighbouring properties

Contact Us