Every in-ground pool has an underground network of pipes running between the pool shell and the equipment pad, the pump, filter, chlorinator and heater that sit in a side yard or at the rear of the house. These pipes are embedded in backfill around the pool shell, and in some older Hunter-region installations, they run under concrete paving or through garden beds at some depth. When you remove the pool, those pipes don’t simply vanish. This guide explains exactly what happens to pool plumbing during removal, from the legal requirements to what typically stays buried and why. For the pre-demolition decommissioning sequence, see our guide to pool plumbing and electrical decommissioning.
Quick answer (BLUF)
Most in-ground pool pipework is disconnected, capped at both ends, and left in the ground during pool removal. Full excavation and removal of every buried pipe is rarely cost-effective and is not generally required. The equipment at the pad (pump, filter, chlorinator) is removed and disposed of. All active connections to the mains water supply and sewer are capped and certified by a licensed plumber.
Why pool plumbing is typically left in the ground
Pool pipes are PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pressure pipe, running at shallow to medium depth (usually 300-900mm below the finished surface). They are inert, they don’t leach chemicals, don’t corrode, and pose no long-term health or structural risk in the ground.
Excavating every metre of pipe would mean:
- Additional machine hours to expose a much larger trench network
- More soil disturbance beyond the pool footprint
- Higher disposal costs for the excavated material
- Longer re-fill and compaction time
In most Newcastle and Lake Macquarie pool removal jobs, the buried pipework is simply cut at the pool shell, capped with glued PVC caps, and left. The same is done at the equipment pad end.
What a licensed plumber must do
NSW Fair Trading regulations require that any capping of water supply or sewer connections be performed by a licensed plumber who issues a Compliance Certificate (DPIE Certificate or plumbing certificate) for the work. This applies to:
- Auto-fill line: Many pools have an automatic top-up line from the mains water supply. This must be capped and the isolating valve closed or the line cut and capped behind the wall/at the meter run.
- Backwash line: Older pools backwash filter waste to a sewer connection or garden area. If the backwash connects to a sewer, it must be capped with a licensed plumber’s certificate.
- Sewer drain-down connection: Some pools have a line run to the sewer for deliberate draining. This requires certified capping.
The plumber inspects the connections, caps them to code, and issues the compliance certificate. This document should be kept with your property records.
What happens to the filter, pump and chlorinator?
The equipment pad components, pool pump, sand or cartridge filter, salt chlorinator cell and controller, chemical dosing systems, gas boiler or heat pump, are removed and disposed of. Your pool removal contractor typically handles this as part of the full scope. Some equipment has resale value:
- Salt chlorinator cells in good condition can sell for $150 to $400 on the second-hand market
- Pool pumps (variable speed in particular) can fetch $200 to $600 if functional
- Solar heating panels (see our guide on solar pool heating removal) can be worth salvaging
The contractor should advise you on salvage value before simply disposing of equipment.
PVC pipe: any environmental concerns?
Standard pool PVC pipe is not classified as a hazardous material in NSW. It does not leach chemicals under normal conditions. Leaving it buried poses no risk to groundwater, tree roots or future structures (within normal residential usage). However, very old pools (pre-1980) occasionally used bituminous or asbestos cement (AC) pipe for certain connections, if your pool dates from the 1960s or early 1970s, ask your contractor to check for AC pipe before commencing work.
For asbestos-related concerns in older Hunter pools, see our guide on asbestos and old pool removal.
What about pipes that run under concrete paving?
Where pool supply and return pipes run under existing concrete paving (e.g., a concrete deck that is being retained rather than removed), the contractor caps the pipes at the exposed points and leaves the rest undisturbed. This is the standard approach across the industry.
If the paving is being removed as part of the pool job (which is common), the pipe network is exposed during slab demolition and can be cut out if desired, though as noted above, this is rarely necessary.
Will buried pipes affect future construction?
For light landscaping (lawn, garden beds, paving, small decks), buried pool pipes are not a concern. For heavier construction, a granny flat slab, a garage, a new driveway, it is worth locating and recording where pipes run before building. A registered surveyor or plumbing locator (using pipe-tracing equipment) can map buried pipework for around $200 to $500. This is a worthwhile investment before any concrete slab is poured over the former pool area.
FAQs
Do I need a plumber for the entire pool removal job, or just the pipe capping?
Pool demolition and excavation work is performed by a demolition or civil contractor (your pool removal specialist). The licensed plumber is engaged specifically to cap the water supply and sewer connections. Your pool removal contractor will coordinate this as part of the project, you don’t need to source the plumber separately.
How do I know where all the pool pipes run underground?
The original pool builder’s plans (if available) show pipe runs. If plans are lost, a plumbing locator or ground-penetrating radar scan can map pipes non-destructively. Alternatively, experienced pool removal contractors in Newcastle can trace likely pipe routes from the pool shell to the equipment pad. Before any significant excavation beyond the pool footprint, your contractor should check with Dial Before You Dig for public utility locations.
What if a pool pipe is damaged or leaking during removal?
If a pool supply or return pipe is damaged during demolition, which occasionally happens when breaker work is near the pipe run, the contractor caps or removes the damaged section. This is within the normal scope of pool removal work and should not require a separate callout.