With swimming season over, Butler County residents who have not yet closed their pools should be aware of ordinances that need to be followed.

Municipalities can have regulations for water discharge from single residence pools, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s website.

But if municipalities do not have those ordinances, then state regulations are in effect.

DEP spokesman Amanda Witman said the DEP does not require a permit to empty single-residence pools as long as the proper precautions are taken.

She added there could be penalties, determined on a case-by-case basis if the discharge of pool water harms the environment or results in fish kill.

According to the DEP’s “Swimming Pool Water Discharge Guidelines,” available at www.dep.state.pa.us, pool owners should take care to dispose of water in a sanitary sewer — not a storm sewer. Emptying chlorinated water elsewhere may harm the environment.

For those without access to a sanitary sewer, the DEP recommends emptying non-chlorinated water or using it for irrigation in an area “where the water will not flow into a stream or storm sewer.”

Discharged water cannot contain “any detectable levels of chlorine,” so the guidelines advise stopping chlorination and waiting at least one to two weeks before emptying pool water.

Witman said pool owners should contact their municipality with questions.

“Even though we consider this a local issue, not every municipality in the state addresses pool wastewater,” Witman said. “If you live in a municipality that does not have any pool wastewater ordinances, then the state-level Clean Streams Law would be the standard.”

For example, Butler Township has no ordinances for emptying swimming pool water.

Zoning officer Jesse Hines said, “Follow the DEP guidelines, contact your local sewer authority to see what their restrictions are and make sure that you don’t negatively affect adjacent property owners.”

“As long as you’re not damaging your neighbor’s property, I’m not really going to be too concerned about it.”

Tom Rokovich, executive director of the Butler Area Sewer Authority, said the authority has no specific regulations for pool water disposal. The same is true in Cranberry Township, where waterworks coordinator Tim Schutzman said pool owners should neutralize the chlorine in the pool water and follow DEP guidelines for disposal.

There are six DEP regional offices, each of which offers information on wastewater disposal.

Witman said the DEP’s Northwest Regional Office in Meadville covers Butler County, but residents here also may contact the Southwest Regional Office in Pittsburgh.

“But the best way to be sure that you’re doing it properly is to contact your local municipality,” Witman said.

Also regarding pool maintenance, taking a few actions now and over the winter can allow pool owners an easier spring opening, according to the Northeast Spa & Pool Association.

Owners can protect their pools during the cold season with a sturdy winter cover.

John Migliaccio, president of the Northeast Association, said, “Add a solid cover or a fine-mesh cover to the pool — both will block debris and sunlight from entering the pool. The benefit of a fine-mesh cover is that rain and water will seep through it into the pool with no build up on the surface of the cover.”

Owners can take a photograph of the pool cover in place at the time of closing. If the pool cover changes from the picture, such as sagging into the water, take action by clearing the cover of water, snow and debris.

Owners also can add algaecide to the pool over the winter to keep that water clear.

“We recommend buying three quarts of algaecide now and adding a quart to the pool on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and Valentine’s Day. I mention these three holidays as a way to jog your memory to take care of the pool,” said Migliaccio in a release.

The Northeast Association is an affiliate of the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals, which represents the pool and spa industry.