So you’re finally getting that swimming pool. You’ve figured out which above ground pool to buy, how big it will be, and where it is going to be placed in your yard. You have an installer lined up (or have talked some really good friends into helping you install it), the date is set and you’re ready to go. But what about the water? Where is all that water going to come from in order to fill your swimming pool?
To a pool guy like me, the answer on how best to fill a pool is usually obvious, but I get asked this question all the time under all types of circumstances. To my surprise, over the years I’ve come across many scenarios where the answer isn’t so obvious. Generally, there are five options for filling an above ground swimming pool. For some all five options are viable. However, for some only two options are viable and some have only one viable option. If you have only one option then this decision will be easy. If you have more than one viable option, let’s weigh them up together. Shall we?
Generally, there are five options for filling an above ground swimming pool. For some all five options are viable. However, for some only two options are viable and some have only one viable option. If you have only one option then this decision will be easy. If you have more than one viable option, let’s weigh them up together. Shall we?
The Five Options for Filling an Above Ground Pool
- City or municipal water from your house
Most people now have access to municipal water at their homes. Some homes have septic tanks for their used water and some have to pay for municipal sewage. It is cool if you have a septic tank, because the water company will only charge you for the water to fill your pool. If you have municipal sewage, it can be expensive to fill your pool as you will be charged the sewage fee for all those gallons of water that the pool took to fill up. Money saving tip: Call your water company and tell them you are planning to fill a pool. They may give you a discount on the sewage or not charge for it at all.
City/municipal water is excellent for filling swimming pools, because the water is already treated and balanced.
- Well water directly from your well
Many homes out in the country don’t get municipal water and only have a well. This is not a problem as long as the quality of the well water is good. If your well water is not that good (meaning it’s smelly, cloudy or discolored) it’s still OK, but you’ll have to treat the water in the pool to get it clear and healthy. It will cost you more because you’ll have to get chemicals and it can take a few days to clear up.
- Well water coming through a softener system
Most homes that have only wells will have a water softening system attached somewhere. Running between 10 000 and 20 000 gallons through a softener has a cost as it will take a good amount of salt and chemicals to do so.
- Water from a delivery service
This is a nice option, but is usually too expensive for new pool owners. Here in Central Florida there are two guys that offer this service. One guy charges $500.00 for 9 000 gallons and the other guy charges $275.00 for 6 000 gallons. The water quality is always excellent and the pool gets filled really fast. So, it’s a good option, but it is pricey. Also, water delivery services are rare so chances are that you will not have this option anyway.Sometimes there can be issues with filling an above ground this quickly. If the liner is set too tightly or if it’s a beaded liner, it could come out of the bead channel. Keep an eye on things when filling a pool this fast.
- Water from the fire department
Long ago it seems in places far, far away, fire departments kindly used to fill swimming pools. This is now a rare occurrence in most areas, although some still do it usually for a donation or something. This method fills the pool fast too, so keep an eye on the liner while filling your pool.
Expensive Municipal Water Versus Cheap Well Water
A lot of homes have access to both municipal water and a well. If this is the case, do you fill the pool with municipal water that you have to pay for or do you fill it with your well water that’s free? The answer depends mainly on the quality of your well water. If your well water is completely clear, use it. You may have to shock it a little more initially and adjust the chemistry, but it’ll be much less expensive.
If your well water is just OK (meaning it’s a little cloudy and has a bit of an odor), you still may want to fill your pool with it. Certainly this water will take some extra start-up chemicals to get it right, but it’ll still be more cost-effective than filling it with municipal water.
Some other considerations are the condition of your well and its pump. Do you have issues with your well’s pump? Do you feel it’s on its last leg and you have to give it a break often? How about your well? Does it kick up a lot of sand or start to pump really slowly after a while of continuous use? Am I asking too many questions in one paragraph? A pool needs many gallons of water and if you are having issues like this, it may be better just to fill it with your municipal water.
What to Do While the Pool Gets Filled and What to Do Afterwards
Keep an eye on your pool while it is filling up. Make sure the liner isn’t coming loose and that there’s no moisture anywhere around the pool. Also, make sure that you install all of the top rails of the pool and connectors before the pool is more than halfway full. It can be much harder to install these parts after the pool has been filled.
You can take a water sample to a pool store so that they can analyze it and you can get the chemicals it needs for the start-up. You can shock the pool when it’s at least half full, but I would wait until it’s completely full because you can then turn on the pump and run the filter.
When entirely burying an above-ground pool, slurry is the ideal backfill material to utilize because it can hold its own weight.
Hi, We just installed a 15X30 resin pool. Started to fill today and as we reached 15-16 inches, there are four buckled areas in the pool walls. I stopped the fill and I’m not sure if we should keep going tomorrow or quite what to do. Do you think this is normal. It appears to be level. Thank you.
Hi, I just installed a new liner.
There is a damp spot on the ground forming as the pool is filling. I’ve check all along the area with food coloring closely but have found no leaks.
Is it possible the water weight is pushing moisture up from the ground, that moisture is being pushed from the 1″ styrofoam underlay? Or do I just have a leak?
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Hi, if I install my pool and liner, can I wait until the next day to fill with water?
No. You cannot properly install the liner without water; just wait and do it on the same day.
need help with my above ground pool start up and stuff i filled with well water added 4.5 bags of salt now is where i need to get the help
well water has iorn in it only know because of the stains in the house also i have sand filter skimmer and pump we are new to salt water pool
can my kids go in a pool while it’s still being filled? i don’t think it will mess anything up, but i just want to be sure…
Typically they say to wait 48 hours for the weight of the water to compact the sand so you don’t get dents and footprints
Hey Dan,
Question: With a new 15′ above ground pool, how important is it to test the water coming from my well, through the hose prior to filling up the pool? A pool person had mentioned taking a sample and adding chlorine to it to see if the water color changed. If so, then I’d need to add a filter on the end of the hose.
Is that really needed? Our well water is clear and odor free.
Thanks,
Kel
I’m looking to get a 18ft x52inch above ground intex ultra xtr pool. Do you know the minimum water hight I could fill the pool? I only want to fill it around 42 or 43 inches so the water doesn’t go over my youngest child’s head when standing up. This will be our first pool.
How long should I leave my hose running at night? I have a deep well. I have a new above ground swimming pool and heard that filling it up at night wasn’t a good idea any thoughts
Who are the 2 guys that you talked about that delivers water for a above ground pool? 16feet round by 4 feet high! I live in Boynton beach in a trailer home and they said I can’t use the water here! It’s well water but even though we don’t pay for water they said that we only use so much or the park gets Fined ????
Please leave a reply thank you so much
Filling my 21 ft above ground pool and its about half way full how long do I have to keep the vacuum going to suction in the sides of the liner? Its and overlap liner. And were losing sunlight is it safe to let it fill over night? I live in upstate pa where the temperature drops a little lower over night?
I am replacing my liner and obviously will have to refill the pool (18’ round above ground) I will be filling with my garden hose. I hear two different answers. When filling my pool some say not to let it fill over night. Others say it’s ok. Is it ok to let an new pool fill over night?
Yes. Why wouldn’t it be? Just make sure it doesn’t overflow while you are sleeping.
Does the temperature overnight matter when filling the new above ground pool? Our wall partially collapsed with temps around 57 degrees.
Do you have to fill an above ground pool all the way? Would like to buy a pool that will fit my growing grandchildren for a couple years. Looking at a 42″ in pool but only need to fill it about 30″.
I’m no expert but i’m pretty sure you have to fill the pull to the skimmer line. Or if you dont have a skimmer to the pump water input and output.
You can do that but need to be able to filter the water. If your pool has a bottom main drain, then yes.
Hi, I just installed a new liner.
There is a damp spot on the ground forming as the pool is filling. I’ve check all along the area with food coloring closely but have found no leaks.
Is it possible the water weight is pushing moisture up from the ground, that moisture is being pushed from the 1″ styrofoam underlay? Or do I just have a leak?
If I fill my pool with water from my well do I need to be concerned with how cold the water is when I go in? I just filled up my pool and my water comes from a natural underground river, this water is very good quality, crystal clear, no odor, but very cold. I’m concerned that if the water is too cold what health risk are there.
No health risk.