Pool Filling Best Practices: Safeguarding Public Water Systems

Whether you are a new pool owner or a longtime pool pro, there is something you need to know before you fill up your pool this summer. Believe it or not, there is a right way and wrong way to fill up your pool. What?! Really?

If you're like me you're probably wondering how in the world there can be a WRONG way to fill up a pool. People have been doing it for decades and decades. Just grab your outdoor hose, crank it up, throw that bad boy in the pool, and walk away until it's full, right? Actually, there is a little more to it.

What You Should NOT Do When Filling Your Pool

The method I described above is an acceptable way to fill your pool, but there is one important caveat to keep in mind - one you may have never thought of. The Evansville Water & Sewer Utility shared the following friendly reminder on their Facebook page about the best way to fill your pool...

There's a right way and a wrong way to fill a swimming pool with a garden hose. Never submerge the hose below the waterline. That could create what is known as a cross-connection and put our public drinking water system at risk. The correct way to fill a pool with a garden hose is to keep the hose above the waterline creating an air gap.

According to officials, what's known as a siphon effect can be created when a hose is submerged while filling a pool. If the water pressure in the pool drops slightly, it could cause pool water to be sucked back into your hose, which could potentially contaminate your drinking water.

Have you ever heard of this kind of thing happening? I haven't. Is it really that big of a deal? I guess it's important enough that we need to be reminded that it is at least a possibility. So maybe err on the side of caution this summer and either keep the hose out of the water or install a backflow prevention device on your hose bib.

Best of Indiana: 13 Water Parks to Make a Splash This Summer

Get ready to make a splash! Whether you've got kids, or you're a kid at heart, we've got thirteen of the best waterparks across Indiana. So grab your towel and your sunscreen and let's go!

Gallery Credit: Kat Mykals