Should We Fill Our Pool With a Water Truck?

Should You Fill Our Pool With a Water Truck?

Hiring a water truck will save you time, not money. You call a local pool water delivery service and order 9,000 gallons of water and when the truck arrives it empties that load in 30 minutes or less. This is a great solution if you’re looking for speed. But, what if you were looking to save money?

I often tell folks to fill with their city water supply and here’s why.

Filling your pool with your water hose will save you a lot of money. Pool water delivery depends on the amount you need, distance from the water source, and current water rates. See the following example of how high folks are paying for water truck deliveries these days.

One could say I just cherry-picked an angry customer’s review. However, pool water delivery is expensive. The most common charges are $375-$425 for 9,000 gallons of water delivered. If you’re further away, it will cost more.

The most common size above-ground pool is a 24ft round. It contains approximately 13,000 gallons. I say 13,000 because we as installers need to put in 1,000-1,500 with your hose before a truck can come with its 9,000-gallon load.

A water truck can supply 9,000 gallons. So common sense says this would need two deliveries.

Or one water truck and then 4,000 gallons from your city supplier. Let’s examine this a little closer to see which is best.

The following chart shows you average amounts of water by volume. This is the amount you need to fill the different-size pools.

Water Volume in Above-Ground Pools

The Optimum water level in a pool is determined by the following picture. Pool heights are 52″ and 54″ (48″ being phased out) and your pool is filled to halfway up the skimmer. This provides equal parts of air and water going into your filtration system. Knowing this we can determine the optimum water volume your pool should hold for best filtration/circulation.

Optimum Water Volume Round Pools

Optimum Water Volume Oval Pools

Does Filling a Pool From Your City-Supplied Water Cost Less?

It actually does cost less, and we have done some typical calculations one must go through to get to a legible answer.

So where does the whole water filling process get confusing? It is confusing because every city/town has different volumes of billing. They have two separate billable services, water supply, and sewer supply costs.

How to calculate city water rates?

We find the best method is to call your city or town and get the rates for your billing. They will either use cost per cubic foot, cubic yard, 100 cubic feet, or per one thousand gallons. Besides water rates, they will most likely have sewer rates at a separate price per volume.

Citys/towns will charge you for both. You can ask your city or town to excuse the sewer rate charges provided you permitted the pool build.

Most cities and towns will deduct sewer rates for the volume needed for your size pool. You have to let them know, or they will charge for both.

Cities and towns have different water rates. And different political processes that control each district or zone you live in. It may not be up to you, the homeowner. Whether you fill by your hose if the city or town institutes a water ban and makes you truck in your pool water anyways. A little homework could go a long way.

Methods Used to Calculate City Water Rates?

We find the best method is to call your city or town and get the rates for your billing. They will either use cost per cubic foot, cubic yard, 100 cubic feet, or one thousand gallons. In addition to water rates, they will most likely have sewer rates and are separate prices per volume.

They will charge you for both. You can ask your city or town to excuse the sewer rate charges provided you permitted the pool build. They can deduct sewer rates for the volume needed for your size pool. You have to let them know, or they will charge for both.

Now here is where it gets interesting. Every city/town uses its own water cost by volume. They all have different billing methods based on the many different water measurements.

Please check out what the EPA says about “Understanding your water bill”

The Benefits of Both Water Truck Delivery and Using Your Hose?

Water trucks are quicker and most treat their water. This is the main benefit of having water delivered. A bulk water delivery isn’t regulated like drinking water. You could say city-supplied water is better-treated water.

Since cities or towns control water bans. This additionally is another benefit to a water truck. Yes, droughts do happen and it could be necessary for you to use a water truck.

Using a water hose from home you will save 2/3rds vs a water truckload. And what if you need two tanker loads. A typical 24ft round contains 13,000 gallons. A typical water truck delivery is 9,000 gallons. Can you see the rub here?

When ordering a water delivery service you pay $375-$425 and it’s only for 9,000 gallons. You’ll either have to pay for a second or finish filling the remaining 4,000 gallons with your hose.

Does it make sense to do both?

Please note: The installer has to put in the first several inches of water with your hose (Max 1,000 Gallons). This needs to be done to prevent wrinkles in the pool’s liner during installation.

If you depend on two water deliveries costing $850 or more. It almost becomes a question of what’s more important to protect the environment or your wallet.

What are The Benefits of Using Your Hose?

• Your water hose is 2/3rds cheaper than a single water truck delivery.
• Letting the water go in slower will allow your new liner to stretch into place.
• You can ask for sewer rate to be removed off your bill.

I made a video to show exact calculations in my state (Massachusetts). You can see our video below titled “Should we fill our pool with a water truck?”

This video explains the different volumes of water measures cities and towns use. It also explains how to calculate your own rates. You can gain accurate bill information before deciding whats is best.

I do hope this information about filling an above-ground pool was helpful to you. Please find other topics of pool installation and how to save money in our other blog posts.