Can You Be Fined For Emptying A Swimming Pool?

[renegadefm]

There was a debate going on with work colleagues recently, and one guy said do you know you can be fined for emptying a small swimming pool down the drain, actually its not big enough to swim in, its more of a bathing pool.

But apparently if the water company witnesses this you can be fined, when its only water, its not like its got chemicals or anything in it. 

 

I'm confused because if this true, how the heck are you meant to empty it, and what am I meant to do with the water?

 

You would think with all the flooding going on, really emptying a small bathing pool down the drain it seems irrelevant. 

 

 

[davebro3]

//one guy said//

Any actual occurences?

[Old_Geezer]

I expect you are meant to drink it.

 

You probably need to check local byelaws and/or water company conditions. I doubt anyone cares though.

[barry1010]

You do need authorisation if it's a large pool and / or chlorinated

https://www.netregs.org.uk/environmental-topics/water/more-ways-to-prevent-water-pollution/swimming-and-excercise-pools/#:~:text=Get%20authorisation%20to%20dispose%20of,surface%20waters%20or%20ground%20waters.

 

[renegadefm]

barry1010, 

Thanks barry, but this is just normal water, nothing added other than being topped up with rain water, which goes naturally down the drain anyway. 

It seems ridiculous that I could be fined for pouring the water down the drain. 

[Tilly2]

Who is going to know?

[newmodarmy]

Well, once someone reports you (and has it on CCTV) because you've poured it down the drain, you'd find it difficult to prove it wasn't contaminated.

It may depend on what sort of drain it is- some drains are for household water like baths and toilets, others are for rain water. I know you;re not supposed to divert a mashing machine outlet pipe into the rainwater grid/drain.

Check with your local council or water authority.

[ToraToraTora]

you can put it down the waste water drain not the rain water drain. Where does the sink waste go? put it there.

[renegadefm]

My washing machine outlet goes down the rainwater drain, which links up with our sewage drain. 

Its been like that since I lived here 34 years ago. 

[Tilly2]

If someone has a CCTV camera pointing on your property, it needs to be removed/redirected.

[jackthehat]

There is a great deal of concern about the capacity of existing drainage systems to deal with increased volumes of water. 

Local Authorities are tasked with ensuring that all drainage systems, new and old, are sustainable and that an increase in outflow in one part of the system will not result in an 'overflow' further down the line.

Your Local Authority or Water company will probably have guidance on their website to let you know what you are allowed to do.

[renegadefm]

Tilly2, 

No cctv at the rear of our property. 

But redirect it where? There is no alternative, its been this way since the house was built in 1936.

All the water is directed into the sewerage drain, shower, washing up water, everything. 

There is no alternative drain. In fact the whole row of houses are the same here, but water board must know this and have never complained or done anything about it. 

[ToraToraTora]

"My washing machine outlet goes down the rainwater drain, which links up with our sewage drain. " - no your rain water goes down the waste water drain, you have a combined system. You'd be in all sorts of trouble if your waste was going into the rain water gully system.

[bookbinder]

https://www.thepoolbutler.net/resources/when-to-drain-a-swimming-pool/

[renegadefm]

ToraToraTora, 

As far as I can tell all our waste water finds its way into the sewerage system. 

I know this because the sewerage line was blocked further down the line a few years ago, and all the rain water backed up and nearly flooded our house, so we had to ring an emergency drain clearance company, thats why I know all the water in the house finds its way into the sewerage system. 

Its just the way these houses were designed in 1936

[THECORBYLOON]

Have you thought about contacting your local water company for advice?

[davebro3]

//You'd be in all sorts of trouble if your waste was going into the rain water gully system.//

PMSL - who knows!!!!

[ToraToraTora]

20:47 great then you can empty the pooll down there. The regs concerned are to prevent gawd know what going untreated into rivers etc.

Problems arise today because of a lot of old combined systems with rain water that does not need treat going into the sewage system.

Modern  systems are separated so rain water either soaks away or goes into the gully system. There is a long way to go so our systems get overwhelmed a lot in heavy rainfall.

[renegadefm]

davebro3, 

Well like I explained, our waste from the shower, washing machine etc along with the rain water all goes down the same drain in the end which is in my case the sewerage drain. 

Its just the way all this street is designed. I cant see it changing now, as it would cost a fortune to change the system on all the properties along this street.