Where to drain pool water

Question

I have a 20K gallon pool that I need to drain. I don't have a proper sewer cleanout, but I do have access to a waste line that is on the exterior wall of my house, adjacent to one of the bathrooms. It has a two inch cap.

Is it safe to drain our pool into this waste line? Note - I cannot drain into the street or yard.

Update:

Please let me clarify when I ask if it’s safe - will running 20k water through the 2 inch waste line cause any structural problems? I understand this to be different than a 4 inch clean out line. Also, the city allows us to drain into the sewer/waste line but not storm drain (street).

Answer 1

The pipe won't wear out from 20,000 gallons of water, or 2,000,000 gallons, if that's what you're asking. It may take as much as 3 weeks to pump out, though, since you can't exceed the gravity flow rate in the 2" sewer pipe, or you'll have pool water spouting up into your bathroom fixtures.

You might be able to have a pool company water truck come pump the water out for use elsewhere - if it's not in a horrible state. Depending on several local factors you might even get money for that. And it won't take weeks.

Answer 2

If you are concerned about the flow rate:

Siphon it out with a thinner hose. Stick the exit of the hose loosely into the waste line. The thinner hose will prevent an flow rate too high for your waste line. Since the connection is loose, it will prevent an eventual pressure buildup.

Answer 3

As mentioned, siphoning works. This is the simplest and it works, we have done it dozens of time. And it wont take weeks. Its cheap to sacrifice the end of the hose which you can chop off.

Siphoning will work, as long as tbe hose exit is lower than the bottom of the pool. Even if it isnt, you gould empty some of it.

For larger pools, we have used several hoses and even a drill pump like this. It attaches to your drill and is cheap to buy.

Or you could rent a small submersible pump.