Can I use my well to fill my pool?

Author: Prof. Precious Kub  |  Last update: Friday, November 14, 2025

You can usually fill a pool if your well has a high flow rate, even if it takes a while. But wells with low flow rates can run very slowly and even run dry temporarily. Low-flow wells that are stressed can also pull up dirt, minerals, trace metals, and sediment that can make your water (and pool) dirty.

Can I run my well dry filling a pool?

You should be fine. I would suggest filling over the course of several days though. I've been on well water most of my life. It is possible to run a well dry, so fill for a few hours at a clip and allow the well to replenish itself, then fill some more. I top off my 24 X 44 (30000 gallon) pool in 4 to 5 hour intervals.

Can well water be used to fill a pool?

If you have a well, it makes sense to want to use it to fill your pool. After all, it would be much cheaper than bringing in an external water source to do it with city water! Pool owners can absolutely use well water to fill up their pools, but there are a few major complications that should be considered.

How much does it cost to fill a pool with well water?

For a 15,000 to 30,000-gallon pool, expect to pay $60-$300 for a pool fill. With well water, all you pay is the electricity bill to power the well pump below the ground. On average, electricity costs about $25-$75 for most homeowners, though this price depends on a few factors.

What is the cheapest way to fill a pool with water?

Filling with a water tanker is going to be your cheapest option for that amount of water.

Filling A Pool With Well Water – How To Do It Safely And What Might Go Wrong

How to fill up a pool quickly?

Most common ways of filling a pool
  1. Garden hose using city water.
  2. Water delivery service.
  3. Fire Hydrant, if available.
  4. Do Not fill up the pool with contaminated water!
  5. Do not stop the water too early!
  6. Add chemicals once the pool is full.
  7. Shock your pool after it's filled and balanced.

How much does 1000 gallons of water cost?

Most people spend $4 to $10 per 1,000 gallons from a garden hose or $30 to $100 per 1,000 gallons from a water delivery service.

Is it cheaper to fill a pool with a hose or truck?

Fill method – Using a garden hose costs $40 to $200 while hiring a water delivery service costs $300 to $2,000 to fill a 10,000 to 20,000-gallon pool. Geographic location – Rates for water delivery are often higher in areas where pools are less common.

How much does a pool raise your electric bill?

US homes with swimming pools use 49% more electricity than homes without. The increase in energy usage amounts to about $500 per home per year. Given the cost you'll obviously want to work with those variables to minimize power consumption, and overall cost, ​as much as possible.

What to do with an inground pool you don't want?

6 Ideas for Getting Rid of Your Inground Swimming Pool
  1. Deck. A deck is one of the easiest and most beautiful ways to take your inground pool to a BBQ hangout heaven. ...
  2. Garden. ...
  3. Sunken Fire Pit. ...
  4. Pond. ...
  5. Patio. ...
  6. Remove the Pool Completely.

Why is my pool green after filling with well water?

If your pool is green and cloudy, it's likely an algae problem. Algae can persist in a pool even after shocking. A green pool – especially one that turned green overnight or after rain, can also be from a pool pump that isn't properly circulating water or an issue with your filtering system.

Can I run my well dry?

Does the well “running dry” do any damage? Yes, it can. Running the well pump when there isn't water to pump can damage the pump itself which can cause it to burn out prematurely. Well pumps can be quite expensive to replace.

How long does it take to fill a 8000 gallon pool with a hose?

The average garden hose pumps out 8 to 9 gallons of water per minute (though it can vary from 4 to 12 gallons). If you're wondering how long it takes to fill up a pool with a garden hose, it takes anywhere from 24 to 48 hours to fill an average-sized pool.

Is it safe to fill a pool with a well?

Well water in pools is safe for the most part. If your well is drilled deeply enough, the water should be safe from bacteria, viruses, farm runoff, and septic runoff; however, well water often contains trace minerals and metals.

Can I fill my pool with softened water?

Most experts agree that water in your pool is best when its calcium registers between 100-400 ppm. If your calcium levels are too high, meaning your water is too hard, you can adjust your pool chemistry by adding soft water or through the addition of sodium supplements.

Can a dry well refill?

A well is said to have gone dry when water levels drop below a pump intake. This does not mean that a dry well will never have water in it again, as the water level may come back through time as recharge increases.

Does having a pool use a lot of electricity?

Homes with swimming pools use 40-50% more electricity than homes without one. The amount of additional usage varies based on the type and size of pool pump and how long it runs.

How much does it cost to run a pool pump 24 hours a day?

Our 1 hp (standard) example UST1102 motor above will cost between $1-$5 per day, depending on what your power company charges per kWh, and on how many hours per day the pump is running, which changes within the season. This will result in a monthly cost of $30-$150.

How can I lower my pool pump energy bill?

Get a Variable Speed Pool Pump & Motor

Replacing a Single Speed Pool Pump with a Variable Speed Pool Pump can save up to 1,100 kWh annually. Program it to run on low speed most of the time to increase the filter efficiency, reduce pump noise, and lower the amount of electricity used.

Can I use my garden hose to fill my pool?

Thirdly, garden hoses are not equipped to handle the volume of water needed to fill a pool efficiently. This can stretch the hose, increasing the risk of bursting, and potentially flooding your home. Bursting hoses can also damage your pool's infrastructure, leading to expensive pool maintenance and repairs.

What is the cheapest way to do a pool?

Vinyl liner pools are generally the cheapest inground pool type with regard to upfront costs; however, their costs can increase significantly based on several factors. A ballpark figure on the average price of an inground vinyl liner pool is around $25,000 to $65000.

Is water cheaper at night?

No. While there are reasons for utilities to give cheaper rates at night and other off-peak times for electricity, I've never heard of time-of-use rates for water. As David Samules points out, you MIGHT save on your electric bill if you have an electric water heater and your utility has a lower night rate.

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