Ask Abbey: How to drain a swimming pool

South Fayette Township administrative assistant Abbey Scheerer answers your questions.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

What's the right way to drain my swimming pool for the season?

To safely drain your swimming pool, you must direct the water into the sewage system. Pool water should never be emptied into storm drains, streets or yards.

Swimming pool water that is drained into the sanitary sewer system is sent to a treatment plant—the same place as dirty dishwater, toilet flushes and all other household wastewater.

Why can't I empty pool water into the yard or street?

Pool water may be contaminated by bacteria, chlorine and other chemicals that can harm humans, wildlife and vegetation.

That's why we should never drain pools into grass, roads or the stormwater system.

Only rain and snowmelt are permitted in the storm sewer system, including the grates, inlets and drains commonly seen along curbs and parking lots.

Anything in the stormwater system ends up in natural waterways, eventually becoming our drinking water.

How do I access the sanitary sewer to drain my pool?

Sanitary sewer cleanouts provide access to sewage lines. To find your sanitary sewer cleanout (or in some cases, sewer vent), look for the end of a pipe sticking out of the ground near your house or along the sewer line.

Modern cleanouts normally are capped with a small lid. Sewer vents have a circular grate on top.

To access the sanitary sewer, hold the raised square on the lid of the cleanout and unscrew the cap. Place a hose between your swimming pool and the cleanout. To prevent backflow, do not touch the hose to the bottom of the sewer pipe while draining.

If you are unsure how to access the sanitary sewer, contact the Municipal Authority of the Township of South Fayette: 412-257-5100 or matsf.net.

Abbey Scheerer is an administrative assistant with South Fayette Township.