Podcast Q&A 9: Can I Use Pool Chlorine Tablets to Treat My Storage Tank?

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Note: This podcast transcript has been edited for clarity and length.

Hi everyone, welcome back to the Clean Water Made Easy Podcast. I’m Gerry Bulfin, a WQA-Certified Master Water Specialist here in Santa Cruz, California.

This is our Question & Answer episode where I pull interesting questions from phone calls, emails, and chats, and share quick answers to help you with your water treatment challenges.

Question From Goldie

Goldie wrote in and said:

“My husband has been using pool chlorine tablets in our 3,000-gallon holding tank. The tannin discoloration is gone, but now I smell chlorine in the shower and toilet, my skin feels dry, and I’m worried about damage to our septic system. Is it safe to keep using these tablets?”

Great question, Goldie. Let’s break it down.

Why Pool Chlorine Isn’t for Drinking Water

• Most pool chlorine tablets (trichlor, dichlor, lithium hypochlorite) are not made for potable water.
• They may contain cyanuric acid or other additives not ideal for bathing or long-term use.
• The chlorine recommended for drinking water is calcium hypochlorite, which is NSF-certified and safe at proper levels.

Bottom line: pool tablets will kill tannins, but they’re not the safest choice for your household water.

Impact on Septic Systems and Skin

• High chlorine residuals can interfere with the bacteria your septic tank needs to break down waste.
• Over time, this can slow or stop the “septic action” you need for a healthy system.
• Chlorine also dries out skin and hair, which is what you’ve noticed already.

A better approach is to keep chlorine residuals low — septic experts usually recommend 0.2–0.4 ppm maximum going into the tank.

Safer Alternatives

1. Use potable-grade chlorine (sodium or calcium hypochlorite).
2. Install a small automatic chlorinator so dosing is consistent instead of “all at once” with tablets.
3. Add a carbon filter for the whole house. This removes chlorine taste and odor, protects your skin and hair, and prevents excess chlorine from reaching the septic system.

Takeaway

• Pool chlorine works, but it’s not designed for drinking water systems.
• Switch to NSF-certified potable chlorine and consider adding carbon filtration.
• Keep septic-safe chlorine levels and avoid long-term exposure that dries out skin or disrupts your tank.

Resource

• “Well Water Chlorinators – Popular and Low‑Cost Disinfection”
  This article explains how chlorinators work in well systems and why pairing chlorination with carbon filtration helps remove chlorine taste and protect septic systems.