Commercial swimming pool emptying policy

Commercial swimming pool emptying position:

• You must obtain permission from South West Water prior to emptying the contents of your swimming pool into South West Waters sewer network, be it directly or indirectly. Failure to apply for this permission prior to emptying your swimming pool is a breach of S111 of the Water Industry Act 1991 and a fineable offence.
• The timing, treatment, and rate for emptying into sewer will be determined and agreed
• Permission will need to be acquired for every swimming pool emptying event.

To apply for permission please contact your retailer. The following information should be included in your enquiry to enable us to assess the request:

• Company name
• Contact details
• Site address of the pool to be emptied
• Drainage plan with discharge/connection point to SWW’s sewer
• Volume of the pool being emptied
• Discharge flow rate l/sec
• Discharge start and end time
• Discharge start and end date

Please note that discharges of backwash water into SWW’s sewer network are not covered by this application and instead require a trade effluent consent.