Draining and refilling your pool in Perth
Pool water can't go down the sewer in Perth, and an empty pool can lift if groundwater is high.
So every drain-out we do is planned with you first.
Pool water can't go down the sewer in Perth
Water Corporation does not allow domestic pool drainage or backwash into the sewer.
Ask your council how disposal works where you live. Never run it to road drains, a neighbour's place or parkland.
The water is dechlorinated first. We plan the drain-out with you before day one.
An empty pool can lift out of the ground
Where groundwater is high, emptying a pool can cause it to lift, or "pop".
That's why we never just pull the plug. Drain-outs are planned around your pool and your block.
How we plan a drain-out
- Check your pool
Type, size and anything that affects how it should be emptied.
- Check disposal
Ask your council how disposal works where you live.
- Dechlorinate
Chlorine is brought down before any water leaves the pool.
- Empty in a controlled way
Never to road drains, neighbours or parkland.
- Keep it short
The pool stays empty only as long as the work needs.
What a refill costs in water
Refill water is about $2.11 per kilolitre on Water Corporation's first usage tier (2026 to 27).
A 50,000 litre refill is roughly $105 in water.
After filling, the water is balanced before anyone swims.
Your pool fence stays safe during the works
Pools with water over 30 cm deep need a compliant safety barrier, and councils inspect pool barriers at least every 4 years.
The barrier must stay safe while we work. We keep gates shut and the fence compliant from start to finish.
Questions people ask about this
What happens to the water?
In Perth, pool water can't go down the sewer. Water Corporation does not allow domestic pool drainage or backwash into it.
Never run it to road drains, a neighbour's place or parkland. Your council can tell you how disposal works where you live.
Water should be dechlorinated first. We plan the drain-out with you before the job starts.
Can I drain the pool myself before you arrive?
Please do not. An empty pool can lift where groundwater is high.
Let us plan it with you so the pool is empty only when the work is ready.
Why does the water need dechlorinating?
Dechlorinating first is part of doing a drain-out the right way.
It is one of the steps we plan with you before the job starts.
How much does it cost to refill?
About $2.11 per kilolitre on the first usage tier (2026 to 27).
A 50,000 litre pool is roughly $105 in water.
Who balances the water after?
We do. Filling and balancing is the last step before you swim.