Kelowna reminds residents to drain pools carefully as summer winds down

The City of Kelowna is reminding residents to take care when draining backyard pools, hot tubs and outdoor water features as summer comes to an end.

The city says proper drainage practices help protect Okanagan Lake, local aquatic habitats and the community’s drinking water source.

Residents with chlorinated pools or water features should dechlorinate the water before discharging it. The water should be released slowly onto a dry area of the property and kept on-site whenever possible.

If a yard cannot accommodate the discharge, completely dechlorinated water may be directed to a storm drain. Residents should stop draining if the storm system reaches capacity, flooding begins, rain starts or the ground becomes saturated.