Seems like a waste to just drain it away, especially if you can reuse it for watering plants later.
Rain barrels definitely make sense, especially if you're already paying for water. Pool water's usually treated though, so you might wanna let it sit a bit before watering sensitive plants... learned that the hard way when my tomatoes protested.
If you're worried about chemicals, you could try this: stop adding chlorine or treatments a week or two before draining. Let the sun naturally break down the chlorine levels. Then test the water—once it's safe, use a submersible pump and direct it into rain barrels or storage tanks. From there, you can slowly reuse it around the yard without flooding anything. Worked great for me last summer, and my plants didn't complain at all... even the tomatoes.
"Worked great for me last summer, and my plants didn't complain at all... even the tomatoes."
Ha, tomatoes are usually the first to let you know if something's off. Good tip about letting chlorine break down naturally—I've done that before too. Just make sure your barrels have good lids or you'll end up breeding mosquitoes... learned that one the hard way.
Haha, mosquitoes are definitely an unwanted bonus feature of standing water. Good call on the lids—I've had my fair share of accidental mosquito farms too. And you're spot-on about tomatoes; they're like the garden's early warning system. If they're happy, you're probably doing something right. Glad to hear your method worked out smoothly last summer... sounds like you've got it figured out.
If flooding your yard is a concern, you might consider setting up a drainage path using flexible discharge hoses. I've done this before—just route the hose away from sensitive areas and toward a spot where water can safely disperse, like a driveway or street gutter (check local regulations first, though). Another good option is to drain slowly over several days to give your lawn time to absorb the water gradually. Takes patience, but it beats dealing with muddy patches or unhappy neighbors... learned that one the hard way myself.
