Drought, forcing closing this year

[CUTURHAIR]

Hi,
I have an inground, vinyl liner pool. I am in central North Carolina, and we don't get a whole lot of below freezing temps, but once in a while at most, usually overnight.

Due to the extreme drought, I need to close my pool this year. I don't normally close over the winter, and continue running like normal, through the winter, with less pump/filter operations, than in summer.

Problem this year is the drought, and extreme water conservation measures.

My question(s):

1. If I don't cover the pool, other than for the leaves to fall, and continue to run pump/filter, until skimmer no longer gets any water from reduced water levels, how low can my water level go, without being a threat to the liner?

Also, once the leaves fall, and I remove the cover, there shouldn't be much debris in the pool at all, and I have a portable vacuum, which doesn't require the skimmer to run. I can keep debris out periodically as needed.

Would I still need to add the poly quat? If we happen to get rain, to raise my water level, over the winter, I will restart pump/motor.

I just hate to waste the water, to top it off, at this point, with the drought, but don't want to damage my equipment/liner, with low levels of water, possibly.

Thoughts?

Thanks!
John

[Poconos]

Unless the water level gets really low, like maybe a foot or less at the shallowest point, the liner should be OK. Problems arise when the pool water level drops below the ground water level and the liner floats but in a drought your water table should be low too. You may consider directing roof gutters into the pool if possible to catch any bit of precip that falls. Can't comment on the quat...don't use it.
Al

[joliecharlie]

We have decided to do the same as you John as we are in the same situation and probably same area of NC. We have never closed in the 9 years we have had a pool.
I plan to add water in short intervals to keep it from getting too low, but will not be able to keep it high enough run the pump unless we get significant rain.

I flew out of Raleigh last week end, over Jordan Lake.... WOW! we have a big problem in NC right now!

[CUTURHAIR]

Thanks y'all.

I am in Raleigh, and it REALLY is scary seeing the lake levels on tv, and I can only imagine from a plane. They said Durham has less than 69 days worth of water left, at this point. The thing I don't understand, is why they are just NOW enforcing strict water usage for Durham, and let it get this crucial, before cracking down????

[joliecharlie]

It does seem that more could have been done before now. I could actually see from the plane the roads that were flooded in building Jordan Lake!

We are in Moore County and things are some better but not much. We have a private well so we are really being careful. I love keeping my pool ready to swim year round(even though we don't) but I also like to take baths and brush my teeth!

[ivyleager]

Thanks y'all.

I am in Raleigh, and it REALLY is scary seeing the lake levels on tv, and I can only imagine from a plane. They said Durham has less than 69 days worth of water left, at this point. The thing I don't understand, is why they are just NOW enforcing strict water usage for Durham, and let it get this crucial, before cracking down????

Speaking as someone who lives in Durham.....why are you so surprised by the absolutely STUPID things Durham government does (or doesn't do)??

A few years back Falls Lake was practically empty. My husband and daughter could walk across it near where we live (most likely could have walked a little farther to Duraleigh's house on the other side of the dry bed lake).

[waste]

Cary, please forgive me for assuming that you were a male My bad

Thank you so much for your info on Mikvahs!, I impressed 'the Hell' out of them when I went there and could actually talk knowledgeably on the subject

BTW - didn't y'all get that powerful storm last night, in CT we got a couple of inches, my garden is sooo much happier today. I know that a couple of inches of rain doesn't solve the problem, but it does ameliorate it some...

[joliecharlie]

Meanwhile in our little town the golf courses are having the water poured on them! Can't interupt that tourism!
We were supposed to get rain, but like it has been all spring and summer ...what was predicted failed to materialize!
And Durham's bad decisions ...oh my! That conversation can go in many directions!!!!