Bees and swimming pools

[shakerbeeman]

Do I need to be careful not to locate my hives too close to the swimming pool? The location that works best for me is about 25 ft. from my swimming pool. Will this be a problem of drowning bees or troubled swimmers? The thought is to erect a small buffer so they fly upward in that area.

[Understudy]

Keep a water source close to your hives. This will help cut down on the number of bees wanting to dive in the shallow end.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[JP]

can't control where bees will fly nor their water preferences, but like Brendhan said it may help to have a water source nearby. I gave an old fountain to a neighbor and my bees go to that fountain now, go figure.

[shakerbeeman]

Thanks for the quick replies. I figure the little critters have a mind of their own as to where to drink. I did read yesterday somewhere about the need to keep water available to the bees so I plan to have something near them for their drinking pleasure.

[Jerrymac]

I have an above ground pool. The bees are a good 150 yards away. Sometimes I see them drinking from the small leaks on the plumbing of the filter/pump and from the sides of the pool. (It's an old pool) There seems to be times I find a few drowned in the pool, and then there are no more drowned in the pool.  :?
The neighbor told me once they go for his dog dish. Then there are times I have no idea where they are going for water. I would think the ones that found the pool leaks would keep going to that place, bur they don't. Perhaps they find something better.

[Brian D. Bray]

If after a rain, it was probably mud puddles.