Residential Swimming Pool Wastewater

Who Needs a Permit

Any public pool needs to be registered with the Town; also, anyone who maintains, cleans or drains multiple public or private pools as a business must register as a contractor.

Private, residential pools need not be registered, but they must follow the guidelines laid out here.

Public & Private Residential Pools - Town Sewer System Discharge

Swimming pool wastewater can be put into a sanitary sewer system as long as:

The pH of the discharge shall be between 5.5 and 10.0 standard units.
For swimming pool draining and cleaning wastewater, total residual bromine or chlorine shall be less than 1.0 milligrams per liter (mg/l) as determined by a test kit commonly used in the pool industry.
For swimming pool backwash wastewater, total residual bromine or chlorine shall be less than 3.0 mg/l as determined by a test kit commonly used in the pool industry.

Surface Water Discharge

No swimming pool acid cleaning, pressure wash or swimming pool filtration backwash wastewaters may be discharged to any surface water or wetland.

Swimming pool draining wastewaters may be discharged from a public or private residential pool to surface water as long as:

The pH of the discharge shall be between 6.5 and 8.0 standard units.
Total residual chlorine or bromine shall be non-detectable as determined by a test kit commonly used in the pool industry (less than 0.1 mg/l).
The discharge shall not cause foaming or discoloration of the receiving waters.
No algae or sanitation control treatment chemicals, other than those that are bromine or chlorine-based, are used. Chemicals to adjust the pH may also be used.
The discharge shall not cause the scouring of stream, river or estuarine bottoms or wetlands.

Ground Surface Discharge

No swimming pool filtration backwash wastewater from a public pool can be discharged to the ground surface without authorization by the local Director of Health.

All other swimming pool wastewater may be discharged to the ground surface as long as:

The pH of the discharge shall be between 6.5 and 8.5 standard units.
Total residual chlorine or bromine in discharges of swimming pool draining wastewater shall be less than 1.0 mg/l as determined by a test kit commonly used in the pool industry.
Total residual chlorine or bromine in discharges of swimming pool filtration backwash wastewater from a private residential pool shall be less than 3.0 mg/l as determined by a test kit commonly used in the pool industry.
The discharge shall seep directly into the ground and not run off into a surface water body, storm drain, wetland or onto adjacent property.
The discharge shall be located at least 25 feet from any water supply well, subsurface sewage disposal system or surface water body.

Dedicated Subsurface Disposal System Discharge

Swimming pool wastewater may be discharged from a public or private residential pool to a dedicated subsurface leaching system (dry wells, galleries, etc. designed to receive pool water and not sewage) provided the following conditions are met:

The pH of the discharge shall be between 6.5 and 8.5.
The location of the dedicated pool water leaching system shall meet required setback distances from wells and onsite sewage disposal systems per the Connecticut Public Health Code.

Pool Bottom Drains

Bottom drains on pools constructed after the issuance date of this permit shall not be directed to any surface water, wetland, or storm drainage system.

Surface Water Discharges Within a Public Water Supply Watershed

The drainage of a public or private residential pool within a public water supply watershed shall be performed in such a way as to minimize soil erosion and maximize absorption of the discharge by the soil. Such discharge shall terminate at least 100 feet from the edge of an established watercourse, unless such termination is impractical. In areas where the 100-foot separation is not possible, the discharge shall be controlled so that the flow energy is dissipated, thereby lessening the impact on nearby watercourses.

Collection & Transport of Swimming Pool Wastewater

Anyone may install treatment and/or storage facilities for the collection of their swimming pool wastewater and provide for the transport of these wastewaters to the town sewer system for further treatment with the prior approval of the town sewer system authority. It should be noted that all wastewaters to be hauled to the town sewer system shall:

Meet the effluent limits specified in Section 5 of the general permit prior to transport and
Be transported in a manner acceptable to the commissioner. Any holding tank constructed for the storage of swimming pool wastewater shall comply with the following:
- For above-ground installations, the holding tank shall be surrounded by a berm which is capable of retaining 110% of the volume of the holding tank.
- An audible high-level alarm system set at 80% tank capacity shall be installed and properly maintained for prevention of spills.
- For below-ground installations, the holding tank shall comply with the construction standards outlined in section 22a-449 (d) -1(e) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.