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Document ID ca-on-toronto-hdphts-2014 Title How to Drain a Pool, Hot Tub & Spa URL https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/water-environment/water-sewer-related-permits-and-bylaws/sewers-by-law/how-to-drain-a-pool-hot-tub-spa/ Jurisdiction /ca/on/toronto Subdomain(s) none Language Status completed Analyzed at 2026-05-13 11:57:27.705118+00:00 Relevance inventory_targeted_fetch

Q Qualitative Requirements (14)

Req ID Category Intent Legal Status Name Subdomain(s) Context Conditions Confidence
#Q001prohibitionunknownmandatoryRavine and Valley Discharge Prohibitionwastewater, recreational waterPool water can never be discharged into or onto the ground near a ravine or valley; it will cause erosion to the land banks and serious damage to vegetation.Discharging pool waterhigh
#Q002reportingreportingmandatorySpill Reporting Obligationswastewater, recreational waterYou or your hired pool service provider are legally obligated to report a spill to provincial and municipal authorities if your pool water has been spilled into a stream, river, lake or the storm sewer system (without proper treatment).If pool water has been spilled into a stream, river, lake or the storm sewer system without proper treatmenthigh
#Q003treatmenttreatmentmandatoryPrivate Chlorine Pool Dechlorinationwastewater, recreational waterWater must be dechlorinated first.When discharging water from private chlorine pools to the storm sewer systemhigh
#Q004operationaloperationalrecommendedPrivate Chlorine Pool Discharge Timingwastewater, recreational waterDischarge should not be done on a rainy day as it will overwhelm the storm sewer system.When discharging water from private chlorine pools to the storm sewer systemhigh
#Q005operationaloperationalmandatoryPrivate Chlorine Pool Permeable Surface Dischargewastewater, recreational waterWater must be fully absorbed into the ground on your property without flowing onto any neighbouring properties.When discharging water from private chlorine pools onto a permeable surface on your propertyhigh
#Q006prohibitionunknownmandatoryPrivate Salt Water Pool Storm Sewer Prohibitionwastewater, recreational waterThe water from salt water pools has such high levels of chlorides that it cannot be discharged to the storm sewer system.When disposing of water from private salt water poolshigh
#Q007operationaloperationalguidancePrivate Salt Water Pool Sanitary System Dischargewastewater, recreational waterAlternatively, the water can be: 1. Carefully discharged to the sanitary system connection located on your own property.As an alternative to storm sewer discharge for private salt water poolshigh
#Q008operationaloperationalmandatoryPrivate Salt Water Pool Permeable Surface Dischargewastewater, recreational waterWater must be fully absorbed into the ground on your property without flowing onto any neighbouring properties.When discharging water from private salt water pools onto a permeable surface on your propertyhigh
#Q009operationaloperationalguidancePrivate Salt Water Pool Third-Party Haulerwastewater, recreational waterAlternatively, the water can be: ... 3. Hauled by a Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks approved hauler.As an alternative disposal method for private salt water poolshigh
#Q010operationaloperationalmandatoryPool Cover Water Debris Removalwastewater, recreational waterRainwater or melted snow collected on your pool cover can be discharged to the storm sewer system as long you remove leaves and other debris first.When discharging rainwater or melted snow from a pool cover to the storm sewer systemhigh
#Q011treatmenttreatmentmandatoryFilter Backwash Water Dischargewastewater, recreational waterThe backwash water from the filter must be filtered and dechlorinated if going to storm sewers, otherwise it must be discharged to the sanitary sewer or onto your surrounding property if it can be properly absorbed into the ground.When discharging backwash water from a pool filterhigh
#Q012treatmenttreatmentmandatoryMuriatic Acid Cleaning Neutralizationwastewater, recreational waterMuriatic Acid cleaning must be neutralized to the City’s Storm Sewer pH limits before discharged to the storm system.When discharging Muriatic Acid cleaning water to the storm systemhigh
#Q013operationaloperationalmandatoryCommercial Pool Sanitary Connection Requirementwastewater, recreational waterUnder the Sewers By-law, commercial pools, hot tubs and spas must discharge into a sanitary connection on the same property that they are situated.Discharging water from commercial pools, hot tubs, and spashigh
#Q014prohibitionoperationalmandatoryCommercial Pool Cover Water Restrictionwastewater, recreational waterThe only water from a commercial pool, hot tub or spa that can enter the storm sewer is rain or melted snow trapped, for example, on a pool cover, after the sediments and leaves are removed.When discharging any water associated with a commercial pool, hot tub or spa to the storm sewer systemhigh

P Quantitative Requirements (4)

Req ID Category Intent Legal Status Name Subdomain(s) Limit Type Limit Value Context Conditions Confidence
#P001chemicalunknownmandatoryChlorinewastewaterMAC<= 0.01 mg/LStorm sewer limits for pool, hot tub or spa water dischargeApplicable when discharging water from chlorine pools or backwash filter water to the storm sewer system.high
#P002chemicalunknownmandatoryBrominewastewaterMAC<= 0.01 mg/LStorm sewer limits for pool, hot tub or spa water dischargeApplicable when discharging to the storm sewer system.high
#P003chemicalunknownmandatoryCopperwastewaterMAC<= 0.04 mg/LStorm sewer limits for pool, hot tub or spa water dischargeApplicable when discharging to the storm sewer system.high
#P004physicalunknownmandatorypHwastewaterrequirement6 to 9.5 pHStorm sewer limits for pool, hot tub or spa water dischargeApplicable when discharging to the storm sewer system.high

D Definitions (8)

Req ID Category Name Context Confidence
#D001private pool, hot tub or spaA private pool, hot tub or spa is one that serves five or fewer single-family residences.high
#D002Environmental Best Management PracticesEnvironmental Best Management Practices (BMP)high
#D003mg/Lmilligrams per Litre; equivalent to parts per million (ppm)high
#D004Commercial Pools, Hot Tubs & SpasAny pool, hot tub or spa that serves more than five units or suites.medium
#D005BMPEnvironmental Best Management Practiceshigh
#D006ppmparts per millionhigh
#D007Commercial Pools, Hot Tubs & SpasAny pool, hot tub or spa that serves more than five units or suites.high
#D008sanitary connectionA sanitary connection carries water to the City’s wastewater treatment plant before it is released into Lake Ontario.high