Using Swimming Pool Water For Household Water.....any Problems?

[jaideeguy]

My property is located on an extremely 'hard' water table and my wells produce super hard water.....900+ppm on TDS mtr. This has made for lots of problems not only with calcium scale build up on swimming pool tiles, but dishes, laundry, bathing etc....not to mention plumbing staining and failing from the calcium buildup.

I have given up on using my hard well water for topping off my pool and mostly rely on soft rain water during the rainy season and occasionally pumping from the klong that passes by my property and it takes a few days of filtering and lots of chlorine to clear it.

I am in the process of bringing water from a nearby lake that is mostly filled by rainwater runoff during the wet season. It tests for hardness at 150ppm and is quite clear [except for the occasional algae bloom] and will be quite suitable for my pool.

It occurred to me that I could use my swimming pool as a reservoir for my household water, as it is filtered daily and chlorinated on a weekly basis with slow release chlorine and remains quite clear. The water would be used for general household use....washing dishes, bathing and laundry etc. for the kitchen, I will use one of those under sink filters.

My question is....are there any health risks that I am not considering?? and any suggestions or comments appreciated.

[ardsong]

without being a water specialist , I may just give you some points of attention for your plan to use the water from nearby lake for your swimming pool and that as water reservoir for some of your household water.

You describe the hardness of the lake water, being a lot better as from your well. so that looks good, however hardness is mostly establish by in-organic chemicals, salts etc.

the major risks will come from the lake water being contaminated with:

- industrial waste, do you know the tributuaries to the lake and whether some streams flow alongside industry or larger cities, communities. ???

- farming chemicals and pesticides, does the lake water contain pesticides from the farmers around ???

- bacteria , are there large cities, communities around the lake or maybe large chicken farms, pig or cow farms that all could release unfiltered domestic water and toilet outlets to the lake?

- bacteria from natural resources, some kind of algae may produce some sick making products, and there are some know tropical water born diseases, bilharzia? can the water be contaminated by dead animals ? . Is the lake water contaminated with this ?

- the swimming pool will have chlorine in it, this is not too good for drinking in larger quantities and for longer periods, but for laundry could do.

- that swimming pool, is that used extensively? if so are you sure that swimmers are clean when swimming, or whether they are using the swimming pool as bath? and what about sanitary stops outside the pool, or some children may use the pool for that as well. ??

the filter for the kitchen use should apart from particle filtering also have a bacterial filter element, else you would better not use it for drinking water, or tea -/ cooking water.

I hope these thoughts may help to some extend to wonder whether your plan is possible and safe.

[kanderson]

We use a catchment tank (pool) and rain off the roof for our house. Quite common here on the Big Island of Hawaii. We don't use it for drinking.

[jaideeguy]

without being a water specialist , I may just give you some points of attention for your plan to use the water from nearby lake for your swimming pool and that as water reservoir for some of your household water.

You describe the hardness of the lake water, being a lot better as from your well. so that looks good, however hardness is mostly establish by in-organic chemicals, salts etc.

the major risks will come from the lake water being contaminated with:

- industrial waste, do you know the tributuaries to the lake and whether some streams flow alongside industry or larger cities, communities. ???

No industry out in the ricefields of CM to worry about.

- farming chemicals and pesticides, does the lake water contain pesticides from the farmers around ???

maybe a little trace, as I mentioned that the lake is only filled during heavy rains

- bacteria , are there large cities, communities around the lake or maybe large chicken farms, pig or cow farms that all could release unfiltered domestic water and toilet outlets to the lake?

There are a couple of pastures where cows graze that the source water comes from.

- bacteria from natural resources, some kind of algae may produce some sick making products, and there are some know tropical water born diseases, bilharzia? can the water be contaminated by dead animals ? . Is the lake water contaminated with this ?

I hope not....but could get tested. Where would I get a water test for bacteria??

- the swimming pool will have chlorine in it, this is not too good for drinking in larger quantities and for longer periods, but for laundry could do.

As stated, this water won't be used for drinking, as we have delivered water and that is used for all cooking and drinking.

- that swimming pool, is that used extensively? if so are you sure that swimmers are clean when swimming, or whether they are using the swimming pool as bath? and what about sanitary stops outside the pool, or some children may use the pool for that as well. ??

In actual fact, my pool is hardly used any more since I got the kids computers, games rule. I may take an occasional dip to limber up and cool down, but do complete shower before and will insist that any swimmers do same and empty their bladders before swimming. My expensive 'hole in the ground' only gets a little use for about 4 months all year long

the filter for the kitchen use should apart from particle filtering also have a bacterial filter element, else you would better not use it for drinking water, or tea -/ cooking water.

again, not for drinking.....

I hope these thoughts may help to some extend to wonder whether your plan is possible and safe.

I do appreciate your thoughts and questions ardsong and hope that I addressed them properly.

A little info that I should have added in my OP.....

The lake is approx 3+ rai in area and 4-6 mtrs deep.

The inlet to the lake is at the opposite end, which is roughly 200mtrs away from where I'll have my pump station.

I have been looking at the various filter systems and with my main concern being using the water for for washing veges, I am hoping that I can be safe with a 3 micron ceramic filter and a charcoal filter under the kitchen counter.

I plan to place the outlet from the lake near the inlet of my swimming pool filter so that the lake water goes directly to my sand and zeolite pool filter which runs for 5 hrs a day for complete turnover.

And Kanderson.....Aloha!! I also lived off city water in Hawaii and used rainwater for years before coming here and we never had any problems. we used one of those counter top ceramic filters then for drinking.

I was on the Big Island, where you from, bro??