Marlborough Mesa

Drains and Pools

Posted in: Marlborough Mesa
Drains

Please remember that according to the "rules and regs" all pools are to be drained into the sanitary sewer system. This should be easy to remember--

ONLY RAIN INTO THE STREET DRAIN!!

May 6th 2008 Report Reply
  • Stock
  • domkid
  • Valued Neighbor
  • Mesa, AZ
  • 3 Posts

I have a question. Why does it matter if people drain their pools into the street?
When I lived in San Diego there was always the rule that nothing goes in the drains except water but that made sense since the drains went into the ocean. The concern there was the impact on the beaches since the drains emptied right at the coast. Here in AZ we have water retention basins (our park).  The pool water will travel to the basin and be absorbed into the ground.  Any pool chemicals in the water will be filtered through the action of evaporation and not enter into any water source.  The amount of chemicals in pool water is not enough to leach into ground water sources, remember the measurement of chlorine, ash, acids, etc are in the parts per million.  I have seen diatomaceous earth (DE) laying along the side of the street and I don't particularly like the way it looks but it is essentially harmless. DE is sedimentary rock that is ground into a powder for filtering.  There is a small risk of inhalation issues but that would require long term exposure.  And finally, if the concern is that it's against the rules and regs then there is a link on this website to make a report to the Code Compliance Officer.  Not trying to start an argument, but I have seen this posted a number of times and have always wondered what the issue was.  Thanks, Dominic

May 6th 2008 Report Reply

Dominic,

Glad you asked, as many people do not know they have a cleanout drain for that purpose.  If you are not sure as to its location, you can call 480-644-2221 (Mesa Utilities) and they will come out and locate and mark it for you free.

 

When pool water mixes with the automotive fluids, pesticides and fertilizers and any other chemicals that may be in the street - that goes directly onto our childrens' playground - the park.  This water is NOT filtered in any way going into our groundwater.  If you have noticed in our street corners where the water from pools builds up - where the cement meets the blacktop, the separation between the two allows water to get in underneath the blacktop causing breakdown and blacktop deterioration.

 

This is directly from the City of Mesa website at:

http://www.cityofmesa.org/environ/Stormwater.aspx

Stormwater contamination occurs when chemicals, debris, and waste enter the storm sewer system. These materials can enter into the system through:
  • the illegal dumping of products or waste into the storm sewer system and/or curb and gutter
  • the over application of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers 
  • leaking fluids from motor vehicles

Once these hazardous materials enter the storm sewer system they drain to our rivers where they can:

  • harm fish and wildlife
  • promote weed growth
  • create stagnant pools that breed disease carrying pests
  • inhibit the natural beauty and safety of our outdoor recreation sites

 

http://www.cityofmesa.org/clerk/CodeBook/CodeinWord/T8/T8Ch5.doc

 

8-5-2:                 ILLICIT DISCHARGES AND CONNECTIONS:

(A)      Unless expressly authorized or exempted by this Chapter, no person shall discharge, directly or indirectly, to the City storm sewer system. (2774/Reso. 6528)

(B)      Discharges regulated pursuant to an NPDES Storm Water Permit or other NPDES permit under the C.W.A. which is issued to the person who causes the discharge are authorized under this Chapter provided that the person is in full compliance with all requirements of such permit. (2774/Reso. 6528)

(C)      Unless identified by the City Engineer under Subsection (D) of this Section, the following discharges are exempt from the prohibition set forth in Subsection (A) of this Section: (2774/Reso. 6528)

1.   Discharges composed entirely of storm water. (2774/Reso. 6528)

2.   Discharges caused by a person from any of the following activities: (2774/Reso. 6528)

(a) Water line flushing and other discharges from drinking water sources; (2774/Reso. 6528)

(b) Lawn watering; (2774/Reso. 6528)

(c) Irrigation water; (2774/Reso. 6528)

(d) Diverted stream flow; (2774/Reso. 6528)

(e) Rising groundwater; (2774/Reso. 6528)

(f)  Groundwater infiltration containing no pollutants; (2774/Reso. 6528)

8-5-3

8-5-2

(g) Pumped groundwater containing no pollutants; (2774/Reso. 6528)

(h) Foundation and footing drains; (2774/Reso. 6528)

(i)  Water from crawl space pumps; (2774/Reso. 6528)

(j)  Air conditioning condensation and evaporative cooler runoff; (2774/Reso. 6528)

(k) Natural springs; (2774/Reso. 6528)

(l)  Individual residential car washing; (2774/Reso. 6528)

(m) Flows from riparian habitats and wetlands, as those areas are designated under applicable federal and state laws; (2774/Reso. 6528)

(n) Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges; (2774/Reso. 6528)

(o) Flows resulting from fire fighting activities; or (2774/Reso. 6528)

(p) Dust control watering. (2774/Reso. 6528)
May 9th 2008 Report Reply
  • Stock
  • creaux
  • Valued Neighbor
  • USA
  • 2 Posts

I thought we wanted the water down the clean out drain so that the water could be treated and reused.  Reduce, reuse, recycle??

 

Laughing

May 11th 2008 Report Reply
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Mesa, Arizona 85210