“Most residential swimming pools contain 30,000 gallons of water,” said Adrian Carranza, Las Cruces Utilities (LCU) Wastewater supervisor. “If a homeowner, or say a motel or hotel owner, doesn’t coordinate with us and they are trying to drain or partially drain their pool…the risk is that it could back up the sewer line in the area, causing backups for neighbors and nearby businesses.” You coordinate with LCU by simply calling Dispatch at (575) 526-0500. There is no charge or fee, and Dispatch is available 24-hours a day.
The beauty of modern pools is that with proper technology and simpler maintenance than in the past, there is little to no need to ever drain your pool. However, when you do, please respect your neighbors and your city’s wastewater treatment facility by making sure to coordinate with LCU first.
“If cared for properly, a pool should never have to be emptied,” explained Carranza. “We would like to have homeowners be aware that any draining of large pools would be a strain on the sewage system, even if it’s just a third or half of the pool.”
Also, do not dump your pool water into the street: Las Cruces Codes Enforcement warns against draining pools haphazardly. “Spring is usually the time we see water waste from pools,” said Michael Roach, field supervisor for Las Cruces Codes Enforcement, “when people want to start up their pools from the winter.” He said, “Wastewater violations fall under the Land Development Code, specifically Chapter 34, Drainage and Flood, Article III, Sec. 34-131. Violations can range up to a $500 fine and 90 days in jail per violation.”
“A bigger pool can drain for 2 to 3 days and each day is its own violation,” said Roach. “When we suggest that it can go on their yard and they tell us we don’t want those chemicals on their yard,” and we say, “well, it’s not good on the street either.”
Get started by coordinating with LCU by calling 24-hour Dispatch at 526-0500. A member of the Wastewater Section will send out a staff member free of charge to make sure there are no sewer blockages and the pool water does not overflow the nearby manhole when it’s run from the pool’s clean out.
Submitted by Las Cruces Utilities at 528-3500 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Las Cruces Utilities provides GAS – WATER – WASTEWATER – SOLID WASTE services to approximately 100,000 Las Cruces residents and businesses.
“Most residential swimming pools contain 30,000 gallons of water,” said Adrian Carranza, Las Cruces Utilities (LCU) Wastewater supervisor. “If a homeowner, or say a motel or hotel owner, doesn’t coordinate with us and they are trying to drain or partially drain their pool…the risk is that it could back up the sewer line in the area, causing backups for neighbors and nearby businesses.” You coordinate with LCU by simply calling Dispatch at (575) 526-0500. There is no charge or fee, and Dispatch is available 24-hours a day.
The beauty of modern pools is that with proper technology and simpler maintenance than in the past, there is little to no need to ever drain your pool. However, when you do, please respect your neighbors and your city’s wastewater treatment facility by making sure to coordinate with LCU first.
“If cared for properly, a pool should never have to be emptied,” explained Carranza. “We would like to have homeowners be aware that any draining of large pools would be a strain on the sewage system, even if it’s just a third or half of the pool.”
Also, do not dump your pool water into the street: Las Cruces Codes Enforcement warns against draining pools haphazardly. “Spring is usually the time we see water waste from pools,” said Michael Roach, field supervisor for Las Cruces Codes Enforcement, “when people want to start up their pools from the winter.” He said, “Wastewater violations fall under the Land Development Code, specifically Chapter 34, Drainage and Flood, Article III, Sec. 34-131. Violations can range up to a $500 fine and 90 days in jail per violation.”
“A bigger pool can drain for 2 to 3 days and each day is its own violation,” said Roach. “When we suggest that it can go on their yard and they tell us we don’t want those chemicals on their yard,” and we say, “well, it’s not good on the street either.”
Get started by coordinating with LCU by calling 24-hour Dispatch at 526-0500. A member of the Wastewater Section will send out a staff member free of charge to make sure there are no sewer blockages and the pool water does not overflow the nearby manhole when it’s run from the pool’s clean out.
Submitted by Las Cruces Utilities at 528-3500 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Las Cruces Utilities provides GAS – WATER – WASTEWATER – SOLID WASTE services to approximately 100,000 Las Cruces residents and businesses.