Pool and spa water may contain harmful chemicals such as algaecides, bromine, chlorine, muriatic acid, salt, diatomaceous earth (DE) powder and sand. These contaminants pollute our lakes, rivers, springs and wetlands, harm aquatic animals and plants, and reduce water quality.

Property owners of the pool and/or spa are responsible for the actions of pool builders, contractors and sub- contractors they hire and/or their own activities on site.

No. Pool water typically contains hazardous chemicals, and when discharged into a storm drain, ditch, canal, inlet or any other portion of a stormwater management system, wetland or waters of the County, it is considered an illicit discharge into the County Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) and is a violation under Chapter 15, Article IV, Section 15-115.

A Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) is a conveyance or system of conveyances like roads with stormwater systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, constructed channels, or storm drains, owned and operated by Orange County for the purpose of collecting and conveying stormwater that discharges into waters of the state.

The construction and maintenance of swimming pools can cause adverse impacts to water quality due to the potential for illicit discharges from the pool into the County MS4 system, wetlands, and waters of the County, during these activities.

Chapter 15, Article IV, Section 15-113 of the Orange County code defines an illicit discharge and an illicit connection.

Illicit discharge means any discharge to the County MS4:

1. that does not constitute stormwater or that is not stormwater, and
2. that causes or tends to cause water pollution.

Illicit connection means any point source connection from an industrial, residential or commercial activity to the County MS4 for which the County has not given express consent and which facilitates discharge to the County MS4.

Keep pool and spa discharge water on your property by pumping it at a slow rate onto your yard. A recommended discharge rate of 25 gal/min or less will allow your lawn to absorb discharge water. Contact your Utility service provider for approval if you want to drain your pool into a sanitary sewer system via your home’s connection such as an indoor tub or sink.

Follow the steps below before draining your pool:

1. STOP adding chlorine or salt several days before you plan to discharge pool water onto a grassy area. In general, 10 days is adequate to dissipate chlorine prior to discharge onto a lawn.
2. Use a test kit to check that Total Chlorine levels are 0.01 mg/L (ppm) or less. If Total Chlorine is not zero, wait at least 48 hours and test again. If chlorine levels are high you can consider using dechlorinating additive such as Sodium Thiosulfate to neutralize chlorine.
3. Test pool water to be sure pH is between 6.5 and 8.0 s.u.

Total Chlorine should be 0.01 ppm (mg/L).

6.5 to 8.0 s.u.

Check with your local pool supply store or online for chlorine test strips, pH test strips and/or pool chemical testing kits.

Saltwater pools convert salt to chlorine making chlorine on site. High concentrations of salt can kill landscaping, aquatic plants and animals. Follow the steps below before draining your saltwater pool:

• Muriatic acid used for etching the concrete pool interior will reduce the pH rapidly. A low pH will immediately kill plants and animals.
• Chlorine is commonly used for disinfection in pools. Although chlorine by itself usually does not cause environmental harm, it combines rapidly to form chemicals such as dioxins that pollute water, kill fish and other aquatic animals in addition to impacting the food chain. Fish become unsafe to eat for birds and humans.
• Neglected or unmaintained pools may be contaminated with algae, debris, metals or other materials that may be harmful to the environment.

1. Prevent overflow from entering any nearby water bodies or storm drains.
2. Test the water.
3. Use a test kit or test strips to check that Total Chlorine levels are 0.01 mg/L (ppm) or less. If Total Chlorine levels are high you can consider using dechlorinating additive such as Sodium Thiosulfate to neutralize chlorine.
4. Test pool water to be sure the pH is between 6.5 and 8.0 s.u. If you need to neutralize pH you may consider using soda ash or a similar product to achieve a pH between 6.5 and 8.0 s.u.

Major storm events and hurricanes can significantly increase the volume of water in your pool which may result in your pool overflowing. When possible, plan ahead and STOP adding chlorine or salt several days before a pending storm. Before discharging the pool water onto your lawn, test to make sure the pH is between 6.5 and 8.0 and the chlorine level is 0.01 mg/L (ppm) or less. Keep pool and spa discharge water on your property by pumping it at a slow rate onto your yard. A recommended discharge rate of 25 gal/min or less will allow your lawn to absorb discharge water.

Best management practices (BMPs) are methods that have been determined to be effective and practical means of preventing or reducing non-point source pollution to help achieve water quality goals. BMPs include both measures to prevent pollution and measures to mitigate pollution.

Before draining your pool, test the water quality.

When draining your pool, pump water at a low rate across your lawn. A recommended discharge rate of 25 gal/min or less will allow your lawn to absorb discharge water.

After draining your pool, be sure to dispose of all filter media such as diatomaceous earth (DE) in the trash.

NEVER drain pool or spa water into a septic system as this may cause system failure. NEVER discharge directly into a street, storm drain, creek, pond, lakes river or any other surface water body.

Chapter 38, Article I, Section 38-1 of the Orange County Municipal Code defines a swimming pool as follows:

Swimming pool shall mean any constructed pool over twenty-four (24) inches in depth or with a surface area exceeding two hundred fifty (250) square feet used for swimming or bathing.

Note that a spa or jacuzzi can also fall under this definition.

Pool water may contain harmful chemicals such as algaecides, bromine, chlorine, muriatic acid, salt, diatomaceous earth (DE) powder and sand. When not properly managed, these contaminants have the potential to pollute our lakes, rivers, springs and wetlands, harm aquatic plants and animals, and reduce water quality of these natural resources.

A Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) is a conveyance or system of conveyances that include catch basins, curb inlets, gutters, ditches, constructed channels, storm drains, stormwater ponds or underground pipes, that are owned and operated by Orange County for the purpose of collecting and conveying stormwater that discharges into waters of the state.

The construction and maintenance of swimming pools can result in adverse impacts to water quality due to the potential for illicit discharges into the County MS4 system, wetlands, and waters of the County, that are associated with dewatering or discharging of pool water.

Chapter 15, Article IV, Section 15-113 of the Orange County code defines an illicit discharge and an illicit connection.

Illicit discharge means any discharge to the County MS4:

1. that does not constitute stormwater or that is not stormwater, and
2. that causes or tends to cause water pollution.

Illicit connection means any point source connection from an industrial, residential or commercial activity to the County MS4 for which the county has not given express consent, and which facilitates discharge to the County MS4.

No. Pool water can contain hazardous chemicals. When pool water is improperly discharged into a storm drain, ditch, canal, inlet, any other portion of a stormwater management system, wetlands or waters of the county, it is considered an illicit discharge. An illicit discharge into the County MS4 or waters of the county is a violation under Chapter 15, Article IV, Section 15-115 of the Orange County code.

No. A saltwater pool still contains chlorine and sometimes other hazardous chemicals. High concentrations of salt, chlorine and other byproducts of the saltwater process can kill landscaping, aquatic plants and injure wildlife. Discharge from a saltwater pool directly into the County MS4, wetlands or waters of the county would constitute an illicit discharge.

You may need the following permits:

1. County Building permit: Construction of a new pool or modification of an existing pool will require a building permit from the Division of Building Safety. Please contact the Division of Building Safety at 407-836-5550 for further information concerning building permits.
2. County Right of Way (ROW) Utilization Permit:
   1. Any discharges directed to the County MS4 requires an Orange County ROW Utilization permit for dewatering and the permit must be obtained prior to the start of any discharges. This includes discharges from new pool excavations or other maintenance activities.
   2. If the contractor will need access to the property through a County easement or County-owned property, a ROW Utilization permit will be required.

Please contact the Development Engineering Department at 407-836-7974 for more information concerning ROW utilization permits.

3. State permits: Discharging groundwater or existing pool water from dewatering operations may require approval from the State. Check with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and/or the applicable Water Management District for more information concerning their requirements.
   
   St Johns River Water Management District; www.sjrwmd.com; 1-800-451-7106
   South Florida Water Management District; www.sfwmd.gov; 1-800-432-2045
   Florida Department of Environmental Protection; https://floridadep.gov; 407-897-4100

Pool construction companies are responsible for applying best management practices (BMPs) when constructing a new pool or performing maintenance on an existing pool. BMPs must be in place prior to the initiation of any earth moving or dewatering activities and must remain in place throughout construction and until the work area has been permanently stabilized.

BMPs generally include:

1. A schedule of activities to ensure that all construction materials and chemicals will be contained onsite throughout construction.
2. Prohibitions of practices that may result in an illicit discharge to the County MS4, wetlands and waters of the County.
3. Maintenance procedures and other management practices designed to prevent or reduce pollutants from entering the County MS4, wetlands and waters of the County.
4. Appropriate measures to contain discharges of pool water on site when dewatering, or in accordance with a Right-of-Way Utilization permit if dewatering will occur into the County MS4.

Note that BMPs include, but are not limited to, treatment methods and practices designed to control the discharge of pollutants. BMPs are performance based and if the BMPs fail or site conditions change, new or additional BMPs may be required to attain compliance. Project sites are subject to periodic and random inspections for compliance with the erosion and sediment control requirements. Violators may be subject to fines of up to $10,000 per day.

Some BMPs that are important for pool construction include:

1. The installation of appropriate erosion and sediment control devices, including silt fence, turbidity curtains and inlet protections. BMPs should be site specific and designed to protect the County MS4, waters of the County, wetlands, and other conservation areas from illicit discharges.
2. Prior to discharging water from swimming pools, the water must be free of hazardous chemicals such as chlorine, salt and muriatic acid. Test for hazardous chemicals and check the chlorine levels prior to discharging. Verify that the chlorine level is 0.01 mg/L or less with a pH between 6.5 and 8.0. Continue proper treatment of the water with a chlorine-neutralizing agent until it falls within these levels prior to discharge. As an alternative, the water may be pumped out by a sanitary disposal service and disposed of at an appropriate facility.
3. Pool chemicals and construction materials must be properly stored in a clean, dry and covered area to prevent contact with stormwater. Hazardous material must be disposed of as hazardous waste and at an appropriate treatment facility.
4. When backwashing the filter system, allow discharged water to infiltrate through a grassy area or naturally vegetated swale.
5. Never create a direct connection between the pool water and a storm drainage system, the streets, gutters, inlets, ditches, stormwater ponds, wetlands, or waters of the County. These types of connections are considered illicit connections and are prohibited under County ordinances.
6. Never drain pool water to a septic tank or drain field as this may result in system failure.

Dispose of existing pool water as follows:

Neglected or Unmaintained Pools

For a freshwater or saltwater pool, a sanitary disposal service must pump out any water contaminated with algae, debris, metals or other materials and dispose of it at an appropriate disposal site. Never discharge this type of water into the street, ditches, stormwater ponds, wetlands, swales, waters of the county or to any components of the County MS4 system.

Maintained Pools

1. Test the water to ensure it is free from hazardous chemicals, such as muriatic acid.
2. Test the chlorine in the water. Verify it is 0.01 mg/L or less with a pH between 6.5 and 8.0 prior to discharge. If the chlorine level is not within this range, treat the water with an appropriate chlorine-neutralizing agent or allow sufficient time for the chlorine to dissipate naturally (generally 10 days).
3. Dechlorinated swimming pool water may be discharged across a vegetated lawn provided that the discharge does not cause turbidity associated with backwashing and cleaning, or otherwise cause a violation of water quality standards, described under Section 62-624.200(2)(q) of the Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.).
4. A pump truck may be needed to draw down large volumes of water from a saltwater pool. The water can then be diluted with fresh water and discharged across a vegetated lawn. However, high concentrations of salts and other chemicals present in a saltwater pool can kill vegetation and harm wildlife, so the water must be sufficiently diluted prior to discharge. Water that is not sufficiently diluted may result in an illicit discharge to the County MS4 or waters of the County.

Any chemical spills should be cleaned immediately per the manufacturer recommendations. If a chemical spill or any other illicit discharge (e.g., discharge of contaminated pool water, chlorinated pool water) went into the street, a ditch, a stormwater pond, wetlands, or other waters of the County, you must report the spill to the Orange County Environmental Protection Division within 24 hours of its discovery. You should include the nature and scope of the discharge, and you must immediately cease discharging and implement suitable BMPs upon discovery of the illicit discharge to contain the area. Failure to report promptly upon discovery is a violation of the county ordinance. See Chapter 15, Article IV, Section 15-116 of the Orange County code for more information.

https://library.municode.com/fl/orange_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIORCOCO_CH15ENCO_ARTIVWAQU_S15-116DIREMIDI

Report any chemical spills or illicit discharges into the County MS4, wetlands or waters of the County within 24 hours by calling the EPD Help Desk at 407-836-3111.