News Flash

Swimming Pool Discharge Guidance

The City of Cookeville is covered by a NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) Phase 2 Permit which requires us to be responsible for the quality of water discharged from our storm drainage system.

It has come to our attention that since the permit was originally written many swimming pools in our jurisdiction have begun using products other than chlorine as a disinfectant and the following information has been given to us by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) to use as guidance on the proper discharge of these chemicals.

The Division (TDEC) has a “no permit required” policy on the end-of-season discharges from chlorinated swimming pools.  In summary, the policy says:

• Chlorine should be allowed to dissipate for a few days prior to discharge
• Discharge should be in a grassy area, as far away from waters of the state as possible
• Rate of discharge should be such as to maximize infiltration into soil without forming a point source
• No soil erosion should occur

This policy applies only to pools that use chlorine as a disinfectant.  Other disinfection products are not covered by this policy.  Discharges from pools that use other disinfection products must either be routed to a sanitary sewer, or obtain a no-discharge (land application) state operating permit or point source discharge (NPDES) permit.

Prior to discharge of swimming pool water to the sanitary sewer you must contact the Cookeville Water Quality Department at 520-5362 to advise them that you will be discharging to their system.