Pool, Spa, and Fountains

Stormwater Related Information for Pool, Spa, and Fountain Industries

Preventing runoff from pool, spa and fountain maintenance activities from entering our streets and storm drains helps protect our waterways from pollution!  All sources of pollution, including runoff from pools, spas, and fountains, are prohibited from leaving your property and entering streets or storm drains. Only rainwater is allowed in the streets and storm drains.

Did you know…

  • Routine maintenance of water features generates pollutants such as chlorinated water, algicides and other chemicals. These pollutants can negatively affect our water quality and harm aquatic life. 

  • To protect waterways, it’s best to dispose of debris from filters in the trash and rinse them in sinks connected to the sewer or over landscaped areas. 

  • Releasing pollutants directly or indirectly into the storm drain system is a violation of the County’s Watershed Protection Ordinance (WPO). 

 

What can I do?

  • Dispose of waste thoughtfully: Discharge chlorinated or treated water into the sanitary sewer system or to a landscaped area to ensure chemicals often used in pools, spas and fountains does not enter out waterways.
  • Use Best Management Practices (BMPs) for your business: BMPs are techniques or controls used to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants, such as chlorinated water, into the storm drain system.  BMPs for a pool, spa, or fountain business include discharging water to landscaped area or avoiding the use of copper-based algaecides.

 

Want to learn more?

The resources below provide suggested BMPs and further information on how to protect our waterways. Click the buttons to view available languages:  

General Pollution
Inspect Your Business
Materials Management Spill Response
Train Your Employees
Loading and Dumpster Areas
Building_Pavement_Wash

 

Know before you go…

Discharging swimming pool, spa, and fountain water to a storm drain can only be done if the water is dechlorinated, has a pH in the 7.2-8 range, and has no algae or suspended solids. 

 

Contact Us

If you would like to report a pool, spa, or fountain discharge concern, have questions about our program, or would like additional information call the County Storm Drain Pollution hotline at: 1(888) 846-0800 or e-mail us at watersheds@sdcounty.ca.gov 

 

Thank you for doing your part to protect our waterways!

 

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