Evansville Officials Say This is the #1 Pool Filling Mistake

If you’re getting ready to open the pool for summer, there’s a good chance your backyard is about to become the neighborhood hotspot. With school out and temperatures climbing, families everywhere are pulling back the pool covers, setting out lounge chairs, and getting ready for long afternoons in the water.

But before you grab the garden hose and start filling up the pool, there’s one important tip from the Evansville Water & Sewer Utility that every pool owner should know.

It turns out there actually is a right way – and a surprisingly wrong way – to fill your swimming pool.

For years, most of us have done the same thing. Turn on the faucet, toss the hose into the pool, and let it run. Simple enough, right? Well, not exactly.

The Common Pool Filling Mistake Many People Make

According to EWSU, one common mistake could potentially put your household drinking water – and even the public water supply – at risk. The issue happens when the end of the hose becomes submerged under the waterline while the pool is filling.

What Is A Cross Connection And Why Does It Matter

Why does that matter? Because it can create something called a “cross-connection.” In simple terms, if water pressure changes unexpectedly, contaminated pool water could actually siphon backward through the hose and into your home’s water system.

The Easy Way To Fill Your Pool Safely

The good news is that avoiding the problem is incredibly easy. EWSU says the safest way to fill your pool is to keep the hose above the waterline at all times, creating what’s known as an “air gap.” You can also install a backflow prevention device for extra protection.

It’s one of those small details most people never think about, but it can make a big difference when it comes to protecting clean water for your family and the entire community.

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So as you get ready for cannonballs, pool noodles, and relaxing summer weekends, just remember this simple pool-filling tip. Keeping that hose above the waterline is an easy way to help keep your summer safe, clean, and worry-free.