Swimming Pool Water Delivery Guide: Methods, Cost, and Who to Turn To

There are several options for pool water delivery, including major water delivery companies and maybe even your local fire department. Bulk water delivery companies tend to have small service areas, so you’ll need to find a company near you. Below we’ve compiled the details on the water delivery process and how to find a good bulk water delivery option in your area.

Water Delivery Process

Step 1: Initial Contact and Calculations

When you contact a pool water supplier, they will ask you about the dimensions of your pool, your location, and whether your pool needs to be emptied before refilling. Together, you’ll determine how much water you need — you can use a swimming pool volume calculator to get an idea — and how many water trucks they’ll need to send. This will vary by company, since there are several different sizes of water trucks, usually holding 2,000 to 6,000 gallons each.

To put things in perspective, a common size for a personal pool is 16 x 32 feet. With an average depth of 5.5 feet, this will hold over 21,000 gallons, so you’ll likely need several truckloads.

Step 2: Preparing Your Pool

You will want to make sure your pool is clean and free of debris before your water arrives. If it already has some water in it, ask the company if they can first pump out water — not all companies can do this. This can add considerably to your cost, especially if they need to haul the water away to dispose of it. If you have a very small pool and don’t mind the water just being poured out onto your property, it may save you some money on water disposal costs. Some places have restrictions on how you can dispose of pool water, so check your local laws and city ordinances first.

Step 3: Delivery

The most important factors that impact water delivery are hose circumference and length. Large water delivery trucks can damage your landscaping, so companies typically come equipped with a long hose and just leave the truck on the street. To avoid damage to your lawn, find out how long the hoses are ahead of time and ask them to bring extra if your pool is far from the street.

The speed of water delivery depends on the diameter of the hoses and whether the company uses pumps to speed up the process. You can probably count on 20 to 60 minutes per load. With several trucks, this can be a lengthy process, but it is mostly hands-off. The driver will put the hose in the pool and probably keep an eye out for problems, but the rest is just a waiting game. You may not even have to be present. (Discuss this with the company as well.)

When your pool is filled, you should treat the water, regardless of its source, unless the company has specifically pre-treated it for use in pools. Most water delivery companies do not pre-treat.

Bulk Water Delivery Options and Cost

We found pricing estimates for pool water delivery ranging from $550 to about $2,800. Exact pricing depends on several factors, including the size of your pool and the distance the company needs to travel for delivery. The water itself is generally quite inexpensive — what you are paying for is mainly labor, time, and gasoline. This means that if you live very close to the delivery company it will cost you much less than if you live far away.

The least expensive option for pool water delivery could be your local fire department. It’s pretty rare for fire departments to offer this service, but it does happen occasionally, particularly in rural or suburban areas. If you live in a rural area, it could be worth asking your fire department since the service will typically be cheaper than hiring a company to fill your pool.

If your local fire department is not an option, there are many pool water delivery companies nationwide. Because of the impracticality and expense of hauling water long distances, most companies have small service areas, usually covering only a few counties.

Local Fire Departments

While fire departments charge for this service, they’re usually more affordable than a water delivery company. Some fire departments require a donation, some charge per gallon, and some charge per load. Here are a couple of examples of prices:

• Quakertown Fire Co. (Quakertown, NJ): Charges $200 per 3,000-gallon load
• Millford Township Fire Company (Quakertown, PA): Charges $110 per 3,500-gallon load

Pool Water Delivery Companies

For exact pricing information, contact the companies directly. Most companies won’t give this information until they know the amount of water you need and the distance of your pool from their headquarters or source of water. Some companies charge only an hourly rate, while some have a set charge for the water and an additional rate based on distance for each load. It’s a good idea to find a company as close to you as possible to get the best price.

When hiring a bulk water delivery company, you’ll want to check references and find out if the company is insured in the event of property damage. Online reviews can be helpful, and talking to other customers can help you get a feel for the quality of the company and their work. Social media pages for local pool owners can also connect you with customers of various companies and answer additional questions.

You will be treating your pool water to make it safe, but some people prefer to fill their pool with potable water as well. Some water delivery companies deliver potable water and some deliver non-potable water. Check with the company if this is important to you.