Pool Filter Back Wash Runs in Neighbor's Yard

Friggin neighbors pool

Anyone know anything about pools? My neighbor was draining something in his backyard yesterday and all this water was running into my backyard. I mean like a river running down the slope in my yard. I climbed up on the fence and said, "Hey Bob, you gotta a leak?" He just mumbled something about his pump back-flushing his filter. Well his whole side yard was full of water which eventually drained out (into my yard). About 10:00 p.m. I went outside to let the dog do his business and the damn water was running down my hill again. His pump has this blue flexible hose coming off of it that just drains into the yard (the source of the problem). Is he supposed to be doing this? I wouldn't think this meets code.

I'm no lawyer, but I believe he should drain it into the street.

backwashing filters isn't a task that is required very frequently. it's just how you clean certain types of filters. I agree that he was being inconsiderate in letting the water drain into your yard, though.

i'd whip out your hose and drain it in his pool.

I mentioned the dog doing his business...

One flick of the wrist and I can land one in the middle of the pool.

Where are ya? Its a stretch that we both know the guy, but it could happen.

Is the ground still saturated? Its rained so much that the ground might not hold the water like it usually does.

I know my dad just waters his lawn when he drains the pool, just b/c its more useful there in your lawn than in the gutter.

I would imagine unless he had some kind of emergency that he should not have any right to impede any substance onto your property. I'd check with your atty to determine your legal rights, especially if you have any damages or his infringement continues.

Lucky, I am in south Arlington.

I know his pool was very dirty before this happened. He was away on business for a few weeks. This may be the reason he had to back-flush so much.

I am thinking me and the neigbor are going to have a talk tonight.

Surely this can be resolved without an atty..Talk to Bob...

back washing is not somehting that is done on a reagualr basis, only when the pool becomes really dirty. Since you do not have alleys, the water runs into your yard.

In my opinion his choices are to drain it to the street or out his back fence (our houses border a creek) not into my yard.

BTW, I did mention it to Bob. He chose to continue it late at night. I am not getting an attorney.

[This message has been edited by ENGag89 (edited 7/22/2002 11:12a).]

A couple of things. Backwashing a pool filter is pretty common. Generally you should do this once/month. Have you ever seen the water problem before? Water that is backwashed has a white color to it - all the DE powder from the filter - is your grass now a white color?

I live in Plano, with a pool, and it is city code that your pool backwash line be directly tied into the sewer system. I previously lived in Dallas and my pool was not built with a backwash line. I did have a hose connected to the filter however which I ran to the alley. It was a pain to do this, but if I didn't, the water would have gone into my neighbors yard.

My guess - you have a lazy neighbor who is backwashing his pool and not bothering to hook a hose up!

I understand it. Our backyard is a full acre, so it normally holds it all and saves a buttload of money in watering. Dont think it goes anywhere else.

Just tell the dude to drain the water somewhere else, and unless he's an a-hole it should be ok. Either way the water wont be there for long.... its not a big deal if its not doing damage.

The water is not white. It seemed very clear, maybe it could have been filtered through his grass before it came through the fence. He has a hose on it but it is only about 10' long. The only other time this has happened he seemed to have a hole in that same hose and it was gushing out. I am guessing he just cut the hose at the hole and let it run into his yard AND MINE. My problem is that I alerted him to the fact that my yard was getting flooded and he continued doing it.

Ask him to cease and desist. He'll have chemicals and sediment in his water. It's not in your best interest to allow this to continue. Keep communication cordial and request he drain his water to the street and not onto the property.

Document every communication and event. You'd be surprised how these little things can sometimes turn ugly.

My guess is that he's draining a lot of water out of his pool because it turned green on him and he struggled and failed to bring it back to blue, so he's just draining a large portion of the water (and algae) out and going to try to start over.

If this is the case -- there will be hardly ANY chlorine in the water at all. Even still, if that is not the case, pools rarely have more chlorine in them than normal tap water -- test your kitchen sink w/ a swimming pool test kit. Many times it's a lot higher than pool water.

Sure it might make your yard muddy for a day, but who cares.. it's the cheapest watering you'll ever get.

I hope that "Bob" the neighbor doesn't take the stand of "cheap watering, muddy yard, so what". He should have no control over how I water my yard. I mentioned above that it is running down the hill in our yard. Moving water washes away topsoil and fertilzer used to get my yard to fill in like I want it to.

BTW, we've only been in the house for 6 weeks and he is doing me no favors by flushing his crap into my yard.

Moving topsoil is not good. At the very least, your neighbor is inconsiderate and may be taking the advantage that you're new to the neighborhood.

You have rights as a property owner.

Build a water drain along the fenceline that has a waterpump at the outfall that shoots the water back over the fence. He will get the point shortly after that.

Call the Health Department and ask them about it.

If they don't help, call the codes enforcement department, whatever they are called.

My guess is that he's done this before, and will continue to do it until somebody tells him to stop. Talk to him. Tell him that too much water will ruin your yard and that he should change his habits. Tell him that if it happens again, you will have a pump that will re-direct the water back to his property. If he doesn't take you seriously, go out and buy a cheap pump and follow up on your threat. A good place to redirect the water would be into his dryer vent.

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Pool Filter Back Wash Runs in Neighbor's Yard

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