Pool Drain and Refill in Broward County: When It Is Necessary and How It Works
Pool draining and refilling is one of the more consequential service procedures in the residential and commercial pool sector — involving regulatory compliance, structural risk, water volume management, and chemistry restoration. In Broward County, Florida, the decision to drain a pool is governed by municipal water use rules, contractor licensing requirements, and structural considerations specific to the South Florida water table. This page covers the operational scope of drain and refill procedures, the sequence of steps involved, the conditions that make draining necessary, and the thresholds that determine when draining is — and is not — appropriate.
Definition and scope
A pool drain and refill is the controlled removal of all or most water from a swimming pool, followed by structural inspection, any required maintenance or repair, and reintroduction of fresh water. The procedure is distinct from partial draining (sometimes called a dilution drain), where only a portion of the pool volume is removed to lower dissolved solids or adjust chemistry without fully exposing the shell.
Full draining exposes the pool shell — whether gunite, fiberglass, or vinyl liner — to ambient conditions and hydrostatic pressure from groundwater. In Broward County, the Biscayne Aquifer sits at shallow depth, meaning hydrostatic pressure can build rapidly beneath an empty shell. An improperly managed drain can result in shell "floating," also called hydrostatic uplift, where groundwater pressure pushes the empty pool structure upward, causing cracking or permanent displacement. This structural risk is the primary reason full drains require licensed professional management in this region.
Contractor licensing for this work in Florida falls under the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (Florida DBPR), which administers the Certified Pool/Spa Contractor license category. Work involving structural repairs conducted during a drain-and-refill sequence may also require permits through the Broward County Building Division.
Scope limitations: This page covers pool drain and refill procedures within Broward County, Florida, including municipalities such as Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, and Miramar. It does not apply to Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County, or Monroe County, each of which operates under separate building and water management jurisdictions. Septic system proximity rules and water discharge regulations vary by municipality within Broward County and are governed by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), whose rules on pool water discharge and water use restrictions are separate from those of individual city utilities.
How it works
A full pool drain and refill follows a structured sequence. Deviations from this sequence — particularly rushing the drain phase or skipping the hydrostatic pressure check — account for the majority of structural incidents in South Florida pools.
- Pre-drain assessment: The contractor evaluates shell condition, notes any existing cracks (see pool crack repair in Broward County), checks equipment shutoffs, and verifies local water discharge rules with the applicable municipal utility.
- Groundwater level check: In Broward County, contractors often measure the depth to the water table before draining. If recent rainfall has elevated groundwater levels, the drain may be delayed or conducted as a partial drain only.
- Controlled pump-down: A submersible pump removes water from the deep end. Discharge must route to an appropriate sewer cleanout or approved drainage point — not to storm drains, per Broward County environmental ordinances.
- Shell inspection and repair window: With the pool empty, technicians inspect the shell surface for delamination, structural cracks, plumbing access points, and surface wear. This is the standard window for pool resurfacing in Broward County, plaster patching, or fitting access for leak detection.
- Equipment inspection: Pumps, filters, and associated plumbing are inspected while the system is offline. Issues with the circulation system may be identified here — see pool circulation problems in Broward County.
- Refill: Fresh water is introduced, typically through a garden hose or bulk water delivery. The shell must not remain empty longer than operationally necessary — most licensed contractors in South Florida target a maximum empty period of 24 to 48 hours depending on season and groundwater conditions.
- Chemistry restart: Upon refill, the water chemistry balance process begins. Calcium hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, and alkalinity are adjusted before the pool is returned to service. See pool water chemistry in Broward County for the post-refill chemical calibration process.
Common scenarios
The four primary conditions that necessitate a full drain and refill in Broward County pools are:
High total dissolved solids (TDS): TDS accumulates from chemical additions, evaporation, and bather load. When TDS exceeds approximately 1,500 parts per million above the source water TDS level (a threshold referenced by the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals, APSP), chemical balance becomes difficult to maintain, and surface scaling accelerates.
Cyanuric acid (CYA) overload: Cyanuric acid, used as a chlorine stabilizer, does not dissipate through normal pool operation. Once CYA levels exceed 100 parts per million, chlorine efficacy is significantly compromised — a phenomenon known as chlorine lock. Dilution or full draining is the only remediation pathway.
Severe algae infestation: Certain algae strains — particularly black algae (Mycrocystis species) embedded in gunite pores — require full draining, acid washing, and brushing of the shell surface before refilling. This scenario is distinct from treatable green or yellow algae blooms; see pool algae treatment in Broward County for the differentiation framework.
Structural repair access: Repairs to the shell surface, main drain housing, hydrostatic relief valve replacement, or plumbing lines embedded in the shell wall require full exposure — a condition only achievable through complete draining.
Decision boundaries
Not every water quality problem requires a full drain. The contrast between full drain and partial drain (dilution) is the primary decision boundary professionals navigate:
| Factor | Partial Drain (Dilution) | Full Drain |
|---|---|---|
| TDS elevation | Moderate (600–1,000 ppm above source) | Severe (>1,500 ppm above source) |
| CYA level | Under 80 ppm | 100 ppm or higher |
| Algae type | Green or yellow (treatable) | Black algae with shell penetration |
| Structural access needed | No | Yes |
| Groundwater risk | Lower (shell partially ballasted) | Higher — requires monitoring |
The decision to proceed with a full drain in Broward County also involves permit status. Certain repair procedures performed during the drain window — including replastering, coping replacement (see pool coping repair in Broward County), and structural crack repair — require a permit from the local building authority before work begins. Pool service permits in Broward County covers the applicable permit categories and the Broward County Building Division's submittal process.
Water restrictions issued by SFWMD or local utilities may prohibit or limit refilling during declared drought conditions. As of the most recent SFWMD water shortage orders (available at SFWMD Water Restrictions), pool refilling may be classified under landscape or non-essential water use during Phase I or Phase II restrictions, with exemptions for documented water quality failure or structural necessity.
For licensed contractor identification in Broward County, the Florida DBPR's online verification tool at myfloridalicense.com provides real-time license status for all Certified Pool/Spa Contractors operating in the state.
References
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) — Pool/Spa Contractor Licensing
- Broward County Building Division
- South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) — Water Use Regulation
- Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) — formerly APSP, industry standards body
- Florida Statutes Chapter 489 — Contractor Licensing
- Broward County Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department