There are many reasons why you might want to drain the water from your residential aboveground or in-ground pool – for prepare the pool for winter (although draining the water isn’t always necessary), to prepare it for repairs or renovations, to have the pool removed, or simply because the water is old and it’s become impossible to maintain proper chemical and mineral levels. But draining a pool isn’t as easy as draining a bathtub. For one thing, there’s no drain plug, and for another there’s a lot more water.

Draining a pool can be done by yourself with the right equipment and know-how, or by a licensed pool maintenance company like Brothers Pool. Keep reading to learn more about draining different kinds of pools, in addition to environmental concerns.

Draining Aboveground Pools

Between aboveground and in-ground pools, the former is the easier kind of clean. The best way to go is to rent a submersible water pump, attach it to a hose, and simply let the equipment do its job. If you want to do the job without any fancy equipment, you can use multiple hoses to siphon the water out. Don’t use your much to get the suction going, as you might swallow some pool water. Instead, fill each hose with water by submerging both ends under water. Remove one end from the water and place it on the ground. The draining water will begin the suction. Draining the pool with an electric pump will probably take between 6-12 hours. Otherwise it may take up to several days.

Some things to consider when draining your above ground pool: Don’t drain water too close to the pool itself, as this can cause damage to its foundation soil. Pick a warm, sunny day if possible so that the lining can dry out and be cleaned. However, if left in the sun too long a liner can crack or warm as a result of heat shrinkage. Above ground pools are also vulnerable to damage from high winds when empty. It’s best to refill the pool as soon as possible.

Draining In-Ground Pools

Draining an in-ground pool is more difficult, and it’s usually much smarter to have it done by a professional. If you’re deadest on doing it yourself, though, here are the basic steps:

• Close the pool’s return lines. Pool water is often cycling through the filtration system, and if the return lines are on as the water level drops air will be let into the suction lines.
• Open the waste line. If you have a DE filter or a sand filter, turn off the pump and set the handle on the multiport valve to “waste.” With cartridge filters, it’s necessary to open the ball valve the leads to the waste line.
• Close the top suction lines. This will prevent air entering the suction lines and possible damaging the motor.
• Make sure the diverter valve to the main drain is open and not blocked. If it’s blocked there will be an obvious drop in water levels.
• Drain the water using the built-in pump or by using an external submersible pump and hose.

This is a very complicated process and much can go wrong. Again, we advise using a professional pool maintenance company for draining an in-ground pool.

Environmental Concerns for Pool Draining

Because pool water is treated with chemicals like chlorine, it’s illegal in many states to simply dump it wherever is convenient. Connecticut is no different. For municipal pools and professional pool contractors, a license is required to dispose of pool wastewater. Such a license is not necessary for private residents tending to their own private pool, but there are rules that must be followed.

For ground discharge, what’s most likely for anyone draining their own pool at home, the Connecticut EPA has the following stipulations:

[S]wimming pool wastewater may be discharged to the ground surface provided the following conditions are met:

1. The pH of the discharge shall be between 6.5 and 8.5 standard units.
2. Total residual chlorine or bromine in discharges of swimming pool draining wastewater shall be less than 1.0 mg/l as determined by a test kit commonly used in the pool industry. Test kit must be accurate to at least 0.1 mg/l.
3. Total residual chlorine or bromine in discharges of swimming pool filtration backwash wastewater shall be less than 3.0 mg/l as determined by a test kit commonly used in the pool industry.
4. Swimming pool maintenance wastewater discharges resulting from the daily 0.5% chlorine solution (or an equivalent fungicide) deck Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance DEP-WD-GP-005 14 of 23 washing as required by RCSA §19-13-B33b(b)(8) (CT DPH Public Health Code) are exempt from an effluent limitation for total residual chlorine. Such solution shall infiltrate the ground completely and shall not be allowed to discharge to storm drains or surface waters.
5. The discharge shall infiltrate the ground completely and not run off into a surface water body, stormwater collection system, wetland or onto adjacent property.
6. The discharge shall be located at least 25 feet from any water supply well, subsurface sewage disposal system or surface water body.

Click here for the Connecticut EPA’s complete document on swimming pool wastewater.

Click here to contact Brothers Pool about pool draining, and other pool maintenance services.