Pool drainage question

[Ryancito]

Hi Bunnings community.

Question about our upcoming landscaping for our newly installed swimming pool - pic attached. 

We are putting down marble stone around the pool 30mm thickness and at the bottom of the photo there will be artificial turf about 40cm below the fence. I was chatting to my landscaper about drainage around the pool and he was saying that naturally they will slope the stone away from the house or even towards the artificial turf. However he did say there are some areas where it would be difficult to achieve that, most likely in the far corners id imagine. He gave me the option that I could have the pavers sit flat in that area, or even slope slightly towards the pool.

Would having the pavers slope towards the pool be a major issue? We are not having any plants or vegetation around the pool, so any rainwater that goes into the pool might have some sandy residue and shouldnt present too many issues for my pool filter. The pool does have an overflow valve which I can open up in case of overflow. I dont think algae growth should be an issue with no soil in close proximity to the pool.

My least favoured option is having the pavers sit flat - Im not really keen on water puddling on the stone pavers itself.

The limestone retaining wall also is an option for drainage. We dont even get much rain here in Perth but you never know.

Thanks

 

[Jewelleryrescue]

Hi  @Ryancito 

I have a fishpond with pavers that are sloping away from the pond as i dont want possible pollutants flowing into the pond killing fish (not that I plan on using dangerous chemical s near the fish. This is not directly your issue at hand.

My point is I also dont like water pooling on pavers etc.

So do angle pavers way from the pool so they do collect the water at points of your choosing so then a small drain can remove the water. there and you will be puddle free,

Option 1  I would put in a small drain or 65mm Ag pipe underground and take the water to storm water outlet. As the strongest solution but I dont think most rain events will need storm water  collection.

Option 2   Drain the corners into an 100mm ag pipe length 5 metres or so that stores the excess storm water in the Ag pipe the and will gradually self drain into Perths sandy soils.

Option  3  If the marble pavers have a 1 to 3mm sand or a single 10 mm gap the outer edge, water will flow naturally through those gaps anyhow and drain away. 

Another  example of mine  I also have 18mm  marble tiles grouted on   top of concrete slab my drain was that  I left the grout out on the slightest down ward  slope and the water finds the slot and disappears no more water pooling.

You will always get massive rain events that fill everywhere I think the trick here is a good slow drain will empty it a few minute later. We  don't need massive drains for puddle draining,

My drain on the fishpond is a 20mm hole drilled through brick work at an angle to natural ground level where the marble tiles angle it too. Simple but effective.  The hole  needs periodic water  blast to clean it .

[EricL]

Hello @Ryancito 

I propose going with the plan of having some of the stone slopping away from the pool and those that can't be sloped be redirected to the pool. Since you have an overflow device it should be safe to do this.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[Nailbag]

Hi @Ryancito 

I agree 100% with both @EricL and @Jewelleryrescue The last thing you want is debris washing in to the pool each time it rains. As you would already be aware, fresh rainwater alone dilutes the chemical balance of the pool water.

I really like @Jewelleryrescue Option 3. This will be an effective but very subtle drainage solution. My only concern however that the gap maybe a trip hard depending on its location. In which case his Option 1 would be the way to go.

Nailbag

[Dave-1]

Afternoon @Ryancito 

Away from the pool my head screams! lol Away! With drainage in the flat areas even.

I was looking for a photo that would sell you to slope teh pavers away and install drainage couldnt find one so this is one of my pool a few years back. Fair enough its on the East coast and not over Perth way so you may get less downpours but all it takes is one for it to be a pain.

Several times over the years we have had largish storms roll through dumping loads of water. My pool has a lip probarly and inch higher then the surrounding concrete. With the downpours, the water overflows from the gardens, or even the pool itself fills and overtops, there is one tine 50mm corrorgated drain just where the hose is and thats it, the whole area backs up and then when the water level is the same the silt rolls striaght across and into the pool. The pool has been brown and I mean dirt brown after downpours.

I would fall the pavers away from the pool, with the flat areas I would go to the trouble of drainage, no corrorgated piping as I find it just clags up long term. Far better to get it right now before everything is done.

If I find a pic of the pool overtopped and brown I will post it up here Its not the end of the world, just means a lot more effort and chemicals on your part to bring the pool back.

Dave

[Ryancito]

Away from the pool it is. Don't really like the idea of dirty rainwater.

Option 3 seems doable. Do you mean to leave a gap around the outer edge of the paving to those sides facing the colourbond fencing? So there will be a 10mm gap from the limestone retaining wall to the edge of the paving?

Thx