Backwash waste uses & routing - I need some help and ideas!

[zephans]

OK, these are a great start. I really like idea of planning for backwash a couple days ahead. Yes, I can block the puppies off while doing the backwash. However I need to make sure I have enought time to deal with the water before I let them go. The pool has been such a huge time sink that I try to keep to 10min chunks... this is a 30-45min chunk to do properly until I get good area to directly pump waste into.


The conservationist in me screams whenever I think about pumping this much water out. I'm only supposed to water the lawn every 3rd day and I typically just let our lawn go brown. (I guess I'll have at least one large green patch this year... good thing it is in the back yard next to the swings/play system .)

I just had another crazy idea that might just work:

RECLAIM SETTLED WASTE WATER FROM SECONDARY "SETTLING POOL"
1. Pump waste water into large kiddy pool (as described before)
2. Let settle for 30min or until water is clear, then slowly move all debris to one side of kiddy pool (without disturbing or stirring up the debris), then let settle again.
3. Use vacuum attachment to pump clear water (from cleared side of pool) BACK into the pool! Make sure to stop pumping when water starts getting cloudy and you can't avoid waste debris.
4. Dump remaining "condensed" waste water on lawn or other approved location.

I'll be this can safely reduce waste water by 75%.
QUESTION: Anyone tried something like this to reclaim backwash water?
QUESTION: Anyone know solid reason why reclaiming settled waste water should NOT be done (or additional steps I should do)?