If you own a swimming pool, then for you it’s about time to close that pool down for winter. Did you know that it is illegal to drain chlorinated pool water into the public drainage system? This includes street drainage that eventually runs into storm water catch basins. That water will eventually make its way to our streams, rivers and ponds. Instead, disconnect or by-pass your chlorinator, or just let it run empty, and then wait for chlorine levels in your pool to drop to undetectable levels (less than 0.01 mg/L) using your preferred pool water test kit. Also, pool water pH should be close to neutral (pH 6.5 to 8.5).