keeping bees out of the pool

[tucsonbeegal]

Hello,
I live in Tucson, Arizona and just installed two nuke hives.  I put a large shallow container of water with rocks in it between and slightly infront of the two hives, but the pool 300 feet away was more attractive.  How do I encourage the bees to drink nearby and not go to the pool?

[qa33010]

    They seem to love the chlorine in pools and probably any other chemicals that are there.  I have a bird feeder that I fill by pouring tap water in and they went for that last year like crazy also.  However this year, even though it's as grubby as it was last year I'm using air conditioner runoff water (pure) they like it but prefer the swimming pool.  I used tap water yesterday and today and they covered it and drained it.  Our tap water is pretty full of chemicals and tastes nasty but the bees love it.  Down the street a fellow beek has a fountian that they really like also. 

    I also have a mineral lick from the farm and ranch store that they get on through out the summer.

[Hayesbo]

In my experience and also what I have seen in here, bees prefer their water to bee over 20 yards away. Others can be more specific. My water trays that I have put between the hives have never been visited that I can see but the always go to the water that collects in my dad's boat 50-75 ft away.

Lots of discussion here about the pools as a watering source. Might have to learn to swim with the bees.

Steve

[tucsonbeegal]

Thanks, I will put another water source further away and see if that helps.  I have read that bees like water that is slimy and foul.  My tap water is well water and tastes wonderful - no wonder the bees are staying away.