How do I stop ground water from coming in and repair fiberglass pool?

Michael Scott
by Michael Scott

How do I stop ground water from coming in an enclosed inground pool?

  10 answers
  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Mar 07, 2019

    I'd call the manufacturer or showroom that sells those to get their recommendations. Must be a pretty big crack for ground water to enter from underneath.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Mar 07, 2019

    Hi there, Contact the Pool maker or other Pool supplier and ask their advice.

  • Robyn Garner Robyn Garner on Mar 08, 2019

    Reading about your issue I see that the pool should never be drained! Especially should never be left drained, as yours is!! It's possible that the pool has "floated" due to being empty and that has permitted groundwater to infiltrate.

    "Whenever the pool is drained and the drain valve closed again, outside water will seep in until the level is as high as the water table."


    You can either call in a pro OR refill the pool and see if that solves the problem.

  • Jan Clark Jan Clark on Mar 08, 2019

    Okey-dokey. What you have here is NOT uncommon in low land areas. This is not something you're probably equipped with to fix yourself. Empty pools, even concrete ones, crack and/or pop up all over Florida, I've seen 'em do it. Obviously, the pool house is under construction. GOOD! You already have excellent ventilation. You're going to need to bring in a company that resurfaces fiberglass pools. They will also be able to find your leak and patch it. They'll drain and resurface the pool and you can then clean up the mess and finish your pool house.

  • Crystle Gibson Crystle Gibson on Mar 08, 2019

    Robyn Garner and Jan Clark are right and have given you great advice.

    a good cleaning and resurfacing should solve the problem. Additionally, you might look into having a liner put in the pool. A liner may be more cost effective.

  • Walter Bercarich Walter Bercarich on Mar 08, 2019

    How about digging a trench outside lower than the floor of the pool, and install a french drain system with a sump pump. You can also install such a system inside under the pool or around the pool and have water drain to the outside drain system. Water of course will flow to the lowest point.

  • Tim Tim on Mar 08, 2019

    All Good answers. Good luck. Call all your local pool company's and get several bids

    take notes from them just to see if they have about the same ideas. It looks like there is a lake in the window outside thats' where the water is coming from,

    and it will be time consuming and costly. But can be done. Again. Good Luck!! TR.


  • Neal Krueger Neal Krueger on Mar 08, 2019

    I agree that you have several problems happening at the same time . One) You appear to have a high water table. Two) the pool was left drained for a extended time. Three ) you may have a problem with drainage on the outside and under the slab. so with the high water table the water pools under the swimming pool , when the weight of the water is removed the water pressure lifts (floats the pool up) cracking the liner or drainage piping. A simple test it see if the water is high go two feet off away from the slab in a area that is free of pipes and utility service. Dig down and make a test perc hole 18 to 24 deep. Then hourly check if the hole remains damp or starts to fill up with water. if fills up with water the slab needs a French drain to remove water from slab away to be disposed of . the French drain should be able to be done as part of a repair to the pool . but the percolation test will confirm excess water.

  • Carolyn and Carolyn and on Mar 09, 2019

    There is a guy in Georgia who repairs pools we used them about 5 years ago for the steps going into the pool. The price was a lot better than replacing. Sorry do not remember their name


  • Michael Scott Michael Scott on Mar 09, 2019

    Thanks for all the answers. I’m thinking that my most cost effective option is to drain it completely, repair and seal the bottom, and install a liner and include a drain with sump that will allow me to pump out water if needed. The fiberglass repair would be very costly I’m afraid as the bottom looks to have been badly patched, making it easy for the groundwater to push it up and break it where it had been patched. They also used water with heavy metal to fill the pool which has stained it.