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Using backwash water to water garden

Posted: Thu 24 Aug 2017 8:11 pm
by meldy
Thought I had seen this topic before, but a search revealed nothing.
I have a tank to collect backwash water from the pool. How long should I leave the water before using it to water the garden?

Re: Using backwash water to water garden

Posted: Fri 25 Aug 2017 6:13 am
by Keithcaley
Until the Chlorine level is at, or below, 1 part per million (UK drinking water standard).

Exposure to Air and Sunlight helps.

Re: Using backwash water to water garden

Posted: Fri 25 Aug 2017 6:50 am
by Groucho
Keithcaley wrote:Until the Chlorine level is at, or below, 1 part per million (UK drinking water standard).

Exposure to Air and Sunlight helps.
I would be very careful... my balance overflowed through an outlet drilled into it for just such a purpose and it killed a large palm tree stone dead in hours...

Testing to the level of accuracy Keith suggests would probably cost more than the value of the water - I know it's a shame to throw out water but you plants are also worth more than the water... and anyway you are not wasting it... it all goes back into nature one way or another...

Re: Using backwash water to water garden

Posted: Fri 25 Aug 2017 7:06 am
by TRNCVaughan
Let it stand until the cr*p settles out then put it back in your pool.

Re: Using backwash water to water garden

Posted: Fri 25 Aug 2017 9:50 am
by Groucho
TRNCVaughan wrote:Let it stand until the cr*p settles out then put it back in your pool.
Will that not lead to an increase in the concentration of chemical strengths like Cyanuric Acid?

Re: Using backwash water to water garden

Posted: Sat 26 Aug 2017 10:08 am
by TRNCVaughan
Groucho wrote:
TRNCVaughan wrote:Let it stand until the cr*p settles out then put it back in your pool.
Will that not lead to an increase in the concentration of chemical strengths like Cyanuric Acid?
Not noticeably. You are only putting back what you took out.

Re: Using backwash water to water garden

Posted: Sun 27 Aug 2017 10:42 am
by Groucho
TRNCVaughan wrote:
Groucho wrote:
TRNCVaughan wrote:Let it stand until the cr*p settles out then put it back in your pool.
Will that not lead to an increase in the concentration of chemical strengths like Cyanuric Acid?
Not noticeably. You are only putting back what you took out.
Well I am not persuaded by that argument - as you say "you are only putting back what you took out" but that's in addition to the new chemicals added on top... Constantly adding chemicals and re-using back washed water will lead to a build-up of chemical concentrations that the human skin should not be subjected to....

Far better to accept that the loss of some water will dilute any harmful build-ups...

Re: Using backwash water to water garden

Posted: Sun 27 Aug 2017 11:00 am
by meldy
Thanks for taking time to reply folks.