I want to DIY a spillway, how do I start?

[spacey]

A not so great pool company here in Oklahoma installed new coping and vinyl liner for our 36'x16' unground pool. They started a spillway install but never finished the spillway,they said they forgot and the guy was apparently on amphetamines.

Anyway, from what I can tell, they connected the center of three return jets to a vertical PVC pipe that is 1.5" inner diameter. Photo attached.

The center return jet never had flow in the past, not sure why the original pool installers did that but it was always that way.

The PVC pipe coming out of the cement deck is not connected to my pool pump at all, no flow comes out of the return jet. I put a plug in it.

If I want to DIY a 3 or 4 foot spillway with cinderblocks and then morter on stone, how do I push the water? I'd have to buy an inline water pump that pushes 130+ gpm and also run electricity to it with an extension cord right? Wouldn't that be loud even if inside the cinderblocks?

What were they attempting to do? I don't want to dig 3 feet vertically and horizontal to get to the PVC to tap into it since I'm not experienced in that.

The pool company wanted to charge $1500, but I bet it would cost way more now.

Any advice on how I do this myself?

 

[ajw22]

A spillway is what is used between a pool and spa.

Do you mean a waterfall on a 3-4 foot wall along side the pool?

MagicFalls® Water Effects

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www.pentair.com

 

[spacey]

Pool info: Vinyl inground pool, 16'x36' Grecian style, Pentair 4000btu heater, Hayward super pump 1HP, Hayward Pro Series 62 gpm sand filter, only two return jets on one side (no jets on other side).

 

[spacey]

A spillway is what is used between a pool and spa.

Do you mean a waterfall on a 3-4 foot wall along side the pool?

MagicFalls® Water Effects

Water effects can help transform your pool into a romantic oasis, a playful family water park, or a breathtaking focal point. Shop our collection today.

www.pentair.com

Yes, I'd like something that looks like this attached file. A short 3-4 foot horizontal waterfall on top of the deck that spills into the pool, vertical height maybe 2 feet or so?

 

[ajw22]

Can the edge of your pool support the weight of the cider blocks and concrete needed?

You need a suction line on the side of your pool feeding a pump that feeds the waterfall with power and controls for the waterfall pump.

Waterfalls are noisy and after the novelty wears off the first year many people never run their waterfalls much or at all.

 

[spacey]

I assume it can handle the weight, the soil is compacted clay, the cement is Quickcrete 3-4 inches thick vertically. The noise sounds like a deal breaker.

 

[ajw22]

I personally don't think it is worth the cost and effort.

Put in some type of fountain that connects to a return if you want to have some water motion to look at or swim under.

Aeration - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[spacey]

I personally don't think it is worth the cost and effort.

Put in some type of fountain that connects to a return if you want to have some water motion to look at or swim under.

Aeration - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Ya, bought this crappy one from Amazon, it doesn't even reach half way across the width of the 16 feet. Doh!

I may get the deck redone in a couple years, maybe I should wait to get a fountain tied into the pool pump. I don't want to hear the noise.

How loud would a pump be for a 3' waterfall? To the point of disliking it being on? I'm wanting to hear water, not a pump.