SELECTED REFORM RESPONSA

We should also note that if a pool has attained the status of a miqveh, then one may add any amount of water, such as tap water, by other means and the miqveh does not lose its status. Furthermore, the original migveh may be connected with another through a pipe. If this is done and it flows into the neighboring pool it is considered and appropriate migveh(Rashi to Yeb. 47b).

The main problem in building a miqveh are the rules connected with the piping, and the vessels through which the water must pass. The vessels can not be of such a size that objects can be placed into them; the pipe itself is not considered a vessel(M. Miq. 4.1; Yad Hil. Mikvaot 6.1). The problem of using a modern water system are the reservoirs, holding tanks, and filters, through which spring or river water flows before reaching the user. Most miqvaot in modern cities, therefore, use rain or melted snow water as the basic supply to which.other water is added as needed(Shulhan Arukh, Yoreh Deah 201.36; Ezekiel Landau , Noda Biyehuda Yoreh Deah 136, 137; Hatam Sofer Responsa#198,#199,#203ff; Rosh Responsa#30,#31).

Now let us turn to the matter of a swimming pool seen in a traditional setting. It is clear from the outset that in many ways a swimming pool satisfies the provisions of a miqveh. Most pools are built into the ground or into buildings which are in the ground. There would be no difficulty of properly guiding two hundred gallons of rain water or melted snow into the pool at the outset and then adding other water. Similarly a small neighboring Splssh pool could be properly prepared and connected. The problem 0 recirculated water which causes a flow and drainage holes in fhe bottom of the pool are among the chief obstacles for traditiona Jews in using a swimming pool as a miqveh. This is true even though the flow of water is entirely internal as the pumps pass water through the filters and return it to the pool. For a ony e; discussion of these problems see Benjamin Kreitman, ay

183