It is likely that if you lost electrical power during the storm you also suffered damage to your pool or spa (motor, filter, valves, heater, fountain or pipes). If you have damage or suspect that you may have damage to your pool and/or spa the following steps are suggested:

1. Turn off the power to the pool/spa at the circuit breaker if it is safe to do so (i.e. no standing water nearby).
2. Contact your pool company or a quality contractor (licensed and insured) as soon as possible for a service call. (A service call may take a while given the volume of damaged pools in the region. Making matters worse, there was a shortage of pool parts prior to the storm due to COVID-19 and the high demand of people installing pools).
3. If the damage to your pool or spa is related to the recent winter storm, your contractor should go ahead and make repairs first then file a permit application with the City Building Inspections Division after the work is completed (the City is allowing emergency repairs related to the storm to take place prior to permits being issued).
4. Be sure that after your work is completed the contractor files a permit application with the City and requests an inspection by the City’s Building Inspection Division.
5. Once an inspection is scheduled, staff from the City’s Building Inspections Division will come to your home and inspect the work completed to make sure it meets all required code and safety requirements.

If you have any questions regarding permit requirements, please call our Building Inspections Department at 817-748-8236 or 817-748-8237.

There are few better ways to celebrate summer than taking a swim in the pool. Before you dip your toes in your backyard oasis to beat the sizzling heat, consider how you plan to drain your pool. Watch a quick video on how to drain your pool correctly here.

Although pools aren’t required to be drained often, the storm sewer system in Southlake drains directly into a natural waterway. Chemicals such as chlorine and other substances can have a harmful impact on the environment and aquatic wildlife if pools aren’t drained properly.

To drain your pool, the first step is to dechlorinate.

To dechlorinate the pool naturally, allow natural sunlight to break down the chlorine over the course of 10 days and refrain from adding more chlorine to the water.

If you opt to dechlorinate your pool using chemicals, make sure the treatment can remove chloramines, especially if you’re using city water.

Next, decide where the excess water will drain to. There are two options: the lawn or sanitary sewer. Follow the steps below depending on the option you choose.

The Lawn:

1. Dechlorinate your pool to less than 0.1 ppm (parts per million).
2. Adjust the pH to fall between 6 and 8, if needed.
3. Make sure the lawn is free of pet waste, natural debris and excess fertilizer to avoid polluting our local waters.
4. Pump from the deepest location in the pool to allow the drainage to flow through your lawn to be filtered and absorbed.

The Sanitary Sewer System:

1. Contact the City of Southlake Public Works Department at 817-748-8082 before you begin the draining process.
2. Dechlorinate your pool to less than 3 ppm.
3. Using the sanitary sewer cleanout on your property, the water may be discharged at any rate, not exceeding 50 gallons per minute.

For more information on draining your pool and preventing stormwater pollution, click here. Have a safe summer!