A method for reclaiming and reusing a substantial portion of the waste water creating during the backwashing of a pool filter. The system uses a separate floating debris filter to remove solids before pumping the waste water into a sediment retention tank. The waste water is stored in the sediment retention tank for about a day, during which time the suspended solids settle to the bottom. The water in the sediment retention tank is then pumped back into the circulating pool system.