Many Toronto homeowners go through a long and painstaking process in deciding when is the right time for pool installation and what is the right style of pool to install. What they don’t often think about is how the pool will affect and be affected by drainage issues in the yard. If they think about it at all they think it’s something for the pool builder to figure out. Technically that’s true, but since this issue may dictate where the pool is located and since many homeowners have definite ideas about exactly where they want their pool to be, it’s useful to broach the topic as early in the planning process as possible.
Make Sure Your Pool Installation Accounts for Drainage
Even if you’re aware that drainage creates issues when it comes to pool installations you may not understand what those issues are. There are in fact 3 main drainage issues that will come to bear on your new pool installation and need to be taken into account. They are:
Issue 1: Surface Runoff – Every yard has its own way of dealing with rainwater and snow melt. Some yards have a dramatic slope and it’s easy to see where the excess water is going. Many yards however incorporate a subtle slope or slopes that may not be readily apparent. An ideal pool installation will feature the pool on the highest point in the yard with the ground dropping away on all sides (except the house side). Why?
- To keep runoff out of the pool.
- To prevent water from accumulating on the decking around the pool.
- To prevent erosion from undermining the pool structure the way it can undermine the foundation of the house.
Issue 2: Runoff from the Roof: Any installation that doesn’t account for runoff from downspouts is asking for trouble in the long run. The amount of water that drains from your roof during a rainstorm can be quite extraordinary. If this water is allowed to runoff in the direction of the pool you’ll have serious erosion problems.
Issue 3: Groundwater: It may be necessary to install catch basins and drains on the deck around the pool to move surface water to another part of the yard where it will be safe for it to join other groundwater. Even so there may be more water around the pool during heavy rain events than the drains can handle so it may be necessary to install a culvert as well.
If the culvert is constantly full of stagnant water it might be necessary to install a pump inside the culvert itself to ensure proper drainage. The pump can be linked to a float control that will allow the pump to turn itself on when the water level in the culvert gets too high.
Remember: Water Can Destroy Your New Pool!
It’s more than a little ironic that your new pool installation needs to be thoroughly protected from water, but if it’s not you’re sure to come face to face with:
- Erosion that causes the pool area to destabilize.
- Dirty runoff draining into the pool making it unswimmable.
- Subsidence in the area surrounding the pool.
- Undermining of the deck area.
- A slew of expensive rectification projects.
Don’t take a chance with your pool installation. Enlist the professionals at Seabreeze Pools to manage every aspect of the construction process and make sure drainage won’t be an issue. We’ve installed scores of inground pools for Toronto homeowners and have a proven track record of dealing successfully with every type of terrain. Call us today to learn more.