Ideas on blocking water flowing to pool from yard

[Aleforge]

I need to put up a picture but right now I don't have one so hopefully this makes sense. Anyhow I have my pool pipes dug up (I replaced them) and need to back fill in the area, rock, concrete etc. The one thing I noticed throughout the winter was the area around my pool always filling up with water after a rain. Tons of water... it would nearly tops off to the pool edge. I have a sump down inside the channeled area so after it rains I pump it all out. But then a few hours later it's partly filled again. After repeating this cycle several times it will finally stay empty, that is until the rain comes again.

So it's probably not shocking to know whats going on. A small stream emerges once I empty the area. The trickling of water comes from only one area that I channeled back to my patio. The rest is surrounded by thick clay so I am assuming it blocks it out. Prior to digging that particular area was also compacted clay that sat under the patio area that I had cut out. The same area is closest to my hill side, so I am going to assume all of the built up ground water finds it way out via the channel I dug towards it.

(sorry long winded)

My question is what should I do about this? I was going to back fill the entire area with the recommended rock I got from here but that obviously will just allow the water to flow right in around my pool. Do you guys think there is some way to dam this off, possibly by compacting clay into the channel? It's freaking me out a bit as I need to get this all finished up but it's worrisome.

Thanks!

 

[Texas Splash]

In this case, I think a pic or two will help tremendously. But for quick brainstorming of water control, I think of:
- A French Drain system
- Retaining wall and/or increased grading to direct water flow

 

[tim5055]

Our previous house had a yard that sloped from left (up) to right (down) looking out the back of the house. The owner previous to me put the pool in and put a french drain along the higher side and down the back as it went to the lower side. Water running would hit the drain and follow the pipe around the pool and exit on the low side avoiding the pool.

I discovered how much water pressure was actually underground on the "up" side of the pool when I accidentialy punched a hold in a grout line of the waterline tile and thru the plaster. I literally had a fountain of dirty water squirting into the pool for about 36 hours. I kept thinking, oh - it will stop any minute....... Once it stopped i was able to fix my oops with epoxy rated for underwater use.

 

[Aleforge]

I have the same direction of slope, but due to being a walkout it goes a long ways upward to the front of the house. The amount of water rushing down, as well as the amount saturated below ground has to be crazy. I am wonder then where I should put a french drain then. I need to share pictures for sure, the trench dug out heads under the concrete about five feet so I am wondering if I put something in just on the other side (prior to the pool area) if it would mitigate the water.

 

[sbcpool]

My question is what should I do about this? I was going to back fill the entire area with the recommended rock I got from here but that obviously will just allow the water to flow right in around my pool. Do you guys think there is some way to dam this off, possibly by compacting clay into the channel? It's freaking me out a bit as I need to get this all finished up but it's worrisome.

I second the French drain idea. Water is a powerful force of nature. Fighting it successfully and reliably for years on end is a tremendous engineering challenge (and expensive). French drains work with nature and gravity to divert water rather than trying to erect structures or contraptions to fight it.

 

[Aleforge]

I wonder how far away I can go to actually help with this, things flatten out obviously near the pool. I went out and looked up some ways to do it, do you guys think the piping would be better than a ditch with rocks? I keep trying to figure out how the little holes don't get clogged, lol.

 

[sbcpool]

When I build a drainage system I use gravel and landscape fabric to minimize dirt infiltrating the pipes. I also make one or more ports easily accessible at the high end so I can perform maintenance by flushing the pipe to prevent buildup of fine particles. I like to dump a ton of water at once rather than run a garden hose. I'll fill up a large trash can with water and use a 1-1/2" sump pump to pump it into the pipe. It's a good flush.