Is It Cheaper To Fill A Pool With A Hose Or Truck?

Matt Makuch
4 days ago
4 min read

When you're ready to fill your pool for the season, one question often comes up: Should you use your garden hose or hire a water delivery service? If you're in New Hampshire or Massachusetts, Fortin Water helps homeowners make this decision every day by providing professional pool filling services that save time and often money. Let's break down the real costs and benefits of each method so you can make the best choice for your situation.

Understanding the True Cost to Fill A Pool With Your Garden Hose

Water and Sewer Charges Add Up Fast

Most homeowners don't realize that filling a pool with their garden hose involves more than just water costs. Your municipal water bill typically includes two charges: the water itself and sewer fees. Here's where it gets expensive—many towns charge sewer fees based on water usage, even though that pool water never enters the sewer system.

For an average 20,000-gallon pool, you could pay anywhere from $200 to $600, depending on your local rates. In some New Hampshire and Massachusetts communities, combined water and sewer rates can reach $15-20 per 1,000 gallons. That 20,000-gallon pool suddenly costs $300-400 in utility bills alone.

The Hidden Time Cost

Filling a pool with a standard garden hose isn't quick. Most residential hoses deliver 5-10 gallons per minute. At that rate, filling a 20,000-gallon pool takes 33-66 hours of continuous flow. That's nearly three full days of running water, which means:

Monitoring the fill level constantly
Increased risk of forgetting and overfilling
Days of waiting before you can swim
Higher risk of well pump burnout if you're on well water

The Real Numbers: Truck Delivery vs. Garden Hose

Bulk Water Delivery Costs

Professional water delivery services like Fortin Water offer transparent, upfront pricing that often surprises homeowners. Bulk water typically costs between $200-500 for an average residential pool, depending on size and location. This price includes:

Clean, municipal drinking water
Professional delivery and monitoring
Fill completion in 1-3 hours instead of days
No sewer charges on your utility bill

When Hose Filling Makes Sense

Using your garden hose works best for:

Small pools under 5,000 gallons
Topping off an existing pool (500-1,000 gallons)
Homes with very low water rates
Situations where you have several days to wait

For most standard inground and above-ground pools, however, the convenience and speed of truck delivery outweigh the minimal cost difference.

Why Massachusetts and New Hampshire Homeowners Choose Truck Delivery

Protecting Your Well System

If your home runs on well water, filling a large pool can seriously strain your well pump and potentially run your well dry. Wells typically produce 5-10 gallons per minute—the same rate as your hose. Running your well continuously for 2-3 days risks:

Pump motor burnout from overheating
Temporary well depletion
Sediment stirring that makes your water cloudy
Expensive pump repairs or replacement

Fortin Water eliminates these risks by delivering municipal water directly to your pool.

Time is Money

Consider the value of your time. Those 33-66 hours of hose filling require regular monitoring to prevent overflow, check water chemistry, and watch for problems. With professional delivery, your pool fills in a few hours while you handle other tasks. Most customers can start treating their water the same day.

Making the Smart Choice to Fill A Pool

Calculate Your Specific Costs

Before deciding, check these factors:

Your local water and sewer rates - Call your utility company and ask for both rates
Your pool's volume - Use a pool calculator or measure length × width × average depth × 7.5
Delivery quotes - Get pricing from local water delivery services
Your water source - Well systems face different considerations than municipal connections

The Professional Advantage

Beyond cost, professional pool filling services offer benefits that garden hoses can't match:

Speed: Complete fills in hours, not days
Quality: Clean, treated municipal water
Convenience: No monitoring required
Safety: No risk to your well or plumbing system
Peace of mind: Experienced drivers who understand proper filling techniques

Fortin Water specializes in all pool types, from small kiddy pools to Olympic-sized installations, and accepts credit cards, checks, and cash for your convenience.

The Bottom Line on Pool Filling Costs

For most homeowners with standard pools, truck delivery and hose filling cost roughly the same, or truck delivery actually saves money once you factor in sewer charges. The real difference comes down to time, convenience, and protecting your home's water system.

Small top-offs and kiddy pools? Your garden hose works fine. But for that first big fill or complete refill of your inground or above-ground pool, professional delivery makes financial sense and saves you days of waiting.

Ready to Fill Your Pool the Smart Way?

Don't spend days watching your garden hose when you could be swimming this afternoon. Fortin Water serves homeowners throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts with reliable, affordable pool filling services. Our experienced drivers deliver clean municipal water right to your pool, so you can start enjoying your backyard oasis immediately.

Contact Fortin Water today for upfront pricing and same-week delivery during our busy season (April through August). Visit our website to use our water volume calculator, check pricing, or schedule your delivery. Your perfect pool day is just one call away!