# So... how do I fill a pool, anyway? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 1, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-fill-a-pool-anyway/654555 "2013-04-01T18:01:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-fill-a-pool-anyway/654555/1 "2013-04-01T18:01:29Z")
I just bought a house, and it came with a belowground pool. We didn’t really want the pool, but have decided to keep it a season to see if we use it enough to justify keeping it. The pool is about half-filled right now (with what I assume is pretty disgusting water), and it’s got a tarp covering it. The pool is 18x32x8. I’ve got a service coming out to “open” the pool… but I forgot to mention to them that it’s not filled. Is that part of the opening service, or should I arrange that separately? Also, can I just fill it with our hose? We’re on a well, and the well yields about 8 gallons per minute. I don’t particularly want to run us out of water… Any help for a pool newb? ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-fill-a-pool-anyway/654555/2 "2013-04-01T18:03:22Z")
In my area, the fire department will fill the pool from a hydrant for a fee. There are also commercial companies who will fill it from a tank truck. ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_N.Cheese)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-fill-a-pool-anyway/654555/3 "2013-04-01T18:35:57Z")
I fill ours with the hoses. If you have a solid safety cover and the pool was properly shut down the water shouldn’t be too icky. Don’t fill it up until they open it because they will need to remove the plugs from the returns. In fact you may need to drain some. How is your cover attached? Can you lift a bit if it up too peek under it? Also, if you have a water softner feeding the hose be sure and bypass it before starting the fill. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-fill-a-pool-anyway/654555/4 "2013-04-01T18:41:47Z")
The cover is just a tarp, using tubes to hold it down. The water level looks to be about three or four feet, so the tarp is sitting on the water, but still anchored at the edges by the tubes. There’s about a foot of water above the tarp, and that’s got leaves in it. I’ve tried to use the leaf rake to get them out, but it’s going to be a job-and-a-half. What’s the best method to get rid of the water above the tarp? And, once that’s done, should I leave the tarp there 'til they come out to open it, or remove it now and start filling it? ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-fill-a-pool-anyway/654555/5 "2013-04-01T19:03:16Z")
You can get a small submersible pump hooked to a garden hose and set it on the cover. It will pump most of the water off. Harbor Freight would have a cheap one. ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_N.Cheese)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-fill-a-pool-anyway/654555/6 "2013-04-02T03:46:31Z")
What **GaryM** said, you need to get a small pump. I’d put the cover back on until they come, just to keep debris out. Like I said, I’d leave it unfilled for now, but give them a call and see what they recommend. I open and maintain our pool, but I’ve have a service company close it in the past. Some things are just worth paying for, even if you can do it yourself. Hell, if you’re so inclined and can afford it, plenty of places will do opening, closing and everything in between so all you have to do is swim. And write checks. Previous post was via my phone, please excuse the typos. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-fill-a-pool-anyway/654555/7 "2013-04-02T11:22:55Z")
Thanks, guys- I picked up a submersible pump last night and within two hours most of the water was gone. Still a ton of leaves, though, so getting rid of those is my project for this week. ---
**Author:** ![bonitahi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7993a0/32.png) [@bonitahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonitahi)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-fill-a-pool-anyway/654555/8 "2013-06-06T23:29:10Z")
To get rid of those leaves on top of the pool water you can make a simple wide rake about as wide as your pool. A long 2x4, a bunch of dowels glued into the 2x4 for rake tines, a l o n g handle, and you are in business. One or two passes with the rake…simple clean up.