How Much Does Pool Water Delivery Cost?
Last Updated on November 12, 2025 | Prices Last Reviewed for Freshness: November 2025
Written by Alec Pow – Economic & Pricing Investigator | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker
CFA Educational content; not financial advice. Prices are estimates; confirm current rates, fees, taxes, and terms with providers or official sources.
Pool owners balance convenience, speed, and the total bill when choosing how to fill a new or freshly cleaned pool.
Prices vary by region and access, yet reliable patterns emerge across the United States as of November 2025. You will see national averages, a worked example, three real cases tied to published fee structures, and simple ways to reduce the total, as corroborated by Angi.
Article Highlights
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- Most deliveries charge $200–$600 per load around 6,000 gallons.
- Hose filling runs about $4–$10 per 1,000 gallons and takes 12 to 24 hours.
- Emergency and potable surcharges add $75–$200 per load in some markets.
- Hydrant rules differ by city, with deposits and fees that affect the math.
- Covers and efficient operation reduce seasonal top-offs and save money.
How Much Does Pool Water Delivery Cost?
Across many markets, pool water delivery averages $200–$600 per truckload for loads near 6,000 gallons, and $0.03–$0.10 per gallon when a provider prices by volume, which puts common residential fills in a predictable band as of 2025. A typical 10,000–20,000 gallon pool totals $400–$2,400 depending on how many trips the truck must make and the mileage fee; see this cost-to-fill breakdown.
Delivery capacity and posted surcharges also shape the final figure, so the same pool may cost less in a dense suburb and more in rural zones with longer drive times or limited fleets. The table below converts the national averages into simple truck-count math that you can compare against local quotes; some providers explain their typical load sizes (e.g., A1 Pool Water).
| Pool size | Gallons | Loads @ ~6,000 gal | Per-load band | Estimated delivery total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 10,000 | ~2 | $200–$600 | $400–$1,000 |
| Mid | 15,000 | ~3 | $200–$600 | $600–$1,800 |
| Large | 20,000 | ~4 | $200–$600 | $800–$2,400 |
These bands align with market guides and with published provider load sizes of roughly 6,000–8,000 gallons in many regions, which is why some quotes land slightly outside the simple math when a local truck carries more water per trip.
Creative Edge Pools highlights that water delivery service prices average roughly $0.03 to $0.10 per gallon, with a typical 17,000-gallon pool costing between $68 and $170 using city water. The site also discusses additional pool expenses like maintenance, covers, and structural repairs that influence overall pool ownership costs but are separate from water delivery charges.
Real-Life Delivery Cost Scenarios
Case 1, Pennsylvania, 12,000 gallons: South-Central Pennsylvania haulers publish loads of 3,000–6,000 gallons, and regional anecdotes and provider pages commonly land a 6,000 gallon load near the mid $300s–$400s, which places a two-load fill near $720–$800 before any mileage add-ons; see a local provider page.
Case 2, California, 20,000 gallons: Some sellers list 8,000 gallon tankers around $400 per load plus a delivery fee, so three loads near $400–$500 each plus a partial could land near $1,600 when local charges and access time are included; here is a sample per-load listing.
Case 3, emergency top-off after hours: One New England provider publishes an after-hours emergency fee of $200 per load, on top of the base price and any potable surcharge, which can push a two-load evening refill near $850 if the base sits around the low $300s; see their pricing policy.
You might also like our articles about the cost of an Endless pool, an above ground pool, or the cost to open a pool.
Factors That Influence Costs
Distance and drive time affect quotes, since trucks may add per-mile or zone charges once the fill site sits beyond the core service radius. Providers also list wait-time or on-site time policies, so slow access through gates or long hose runs can add $100 per hour type charges after a bundled window, which turns logistics into money (see typical provider pages).
Truckloads, hose reach, and water type also raise or lower the bill. A potable water request can carry a per-load fee such as $75 on some pages, and emergency daytime or night delivery can add $100–$200 per load, while longer hose runs or steep drives may require staging in the street with extra labor. Hydrant fills by residents or contractors follow municipal policies that can include fees and deposits; see this hydrant connection program.
Water Source Types
Municipal and treated potable water usually commands a premium and may include a potable surcharge per load, yet it offers predictable baseline chemistry for a start-up service visit. Some cities let residents request a hydrant connection for a fee and deposit, with water billed against standard non-residential rates or minimum volumes; see a simple residential pool plan.
Hydrant policies vary. Some jurisdictions list swimming pool fills as not permitted for hydrant use (e.g., Vancouver’s hydrant use policy), which shifts homeowners toward either a garden hose or a bulk water truck.
Well or spring sources can look inexpensive if you self-fill, but the electric bill for pumping and the time cost add up, and the water may require more balancing at start-up if local minerals are high. The EPA’s WaterSense guidance highlights conservation tactics (covers, mindful backwashing) that reduce top-offs.
Pool Filling Options
Garden hose filling typically runs $4–$10 per 1,000 gallons on city water, so a 15,000–30,000 gallon pool might add $60–$300 to a bill, with the tradeoff being time at roughly 12 to 24 hours until you can start balancing and filtering; see Angi’s guide to hose filling.
Bulk delivery compresses the fill into one to three hours and avoids stressing a marginal well or neighborhood line during peak irrigation season. Some markets offer 8,000 gallon loads near $400 before delivery charges, which brings a medium pool within two trips and keeps plaster start-ups on schedule for new installations.
Local rules can further tip the decision, since some cities rent hydrant meters to residents for short windows with deposits and weekly fees, while other jurisdictions push homeowners toward the hose with sewer-charge adjustments for documented pool fills (see the earlier hydrant example).
Money-Saving Tips for Pool Water Delivery
Shop quotes and schedule early. Ask for both per-gallon and per-load rates, confirm truck capacity, and request a mileage matrix or zone map so you know exactly how distance changes the bill, then lock a weekday morning window to avoid after-hours fees in the event of delays. National cost guides reinforce the mid-market ranges used by many haulers.
Split deliveries and cut losses. Neighbors with similar project timelines may split the travel cost when the truck can stage fills nearby, while covers and efficient backwashing reduce evaporation and unnecessary top-offs across the season, as emphasized by WaterSense (see the link above).
Worked example and hidden add-ons
Worked example: A 20,000 gallon fill needs roughly four 6,000 gallon loads, but the last load is partial, so many haulers round to three full loads and a short fourth trip. Using a mid-market $350 per load, the water portion lands near $1,225 after prorating the last load, then a modest two-zone mileage fee and a potable surcharge could bring the grand total near $1,400–$1,600 in many suburbs, which matches national averages.
Typical add-ons: Published fee pages list potable water surcharges around $75 per load, emergency windows at $100–$200 per load, and wait-time bills near $100 per hour beyond an included window, so confirming driveway access, hose reach, and site timing prevents surprise line items.
Answers to Common Questions
How do I estimate gallons for my pool?
Multiply length by width by average depth, then multiply by 7.5 to convert cubic feet to gallons for a rectangle; some providers offer calculators on their sites (e.g., A1 Pool Water linked above).
Does delivery usually include chlorine or start-up chemicals?
Most haulers sell bulk water only, while start-up chemistry comes from your builder or service technician; some providers label potable water explicitly and add a modest fee per load (see the earlier New England provider pricing policy).
What is the cheapest fast way to fill?
A hose is often the least expensive on pure water rates, yet delivery is fastest. In jurisdictions with hydrant rental programs, a permitted connection can be efficient if deposits and weekly fees remain lower than truck mileage (see the earlier hydrant program).
Is hydrant water legal for a private pool?
Policies differ by city; some allow residential fills by permit and others disallow pool fills from hydrants (see Vancouver’s policy above), so always rely on posted municipal rules.
How long does a truck delivery take?
Many fills complete within one to three hours depending on pool size and access, although multi-load jobs or tricky hose runs may add time and trigger wait-time policies described on provider pages.
My daughters have been asking for a portable swimming pool for their fifth birthday. Thanks for mentioning here that ordering bulk water from a reputable company can give us a guarantee of a 24-hour timeframe of when they would finish filling up an average-sized pool. I think we’ll opt for this service and would probably get in touch with one after we buy the pool.
Trying to see if we can get water deliver to our round above ground pool. Is 24ft round. Can you tell me how much it would cost and when is the earliest we could get it delivered
looking to fill new pool.. 18x9x5 i think its 12,000 liters.. Whats the cost of this. Im in cambridge ont