Who wants to have his own swimming pool most certainly ponders if it should be an above ground pool or an in-ground pool and where exactly it should be built. You think of whether the pump and the filter should be in the house or if a utility shed or a bigger pit next to the pool should be built. It is also a big question, if a coping or a roofing is needed. If you think you do need a roofing or a coping you have the choice between a great variety of models. You also may think of adding it later when you have saved some money for it. You may also want to have a hydro-flow system and illumination equipment.

If some day you finished building your own pool to your liking and you enjoy the amenities of your own pool, you might have surprising and unwelcome visitors from the police, the building inspection or the public water supply. To circumvent this, you should get some information and negotiate a bit before you start to build your own pool.

First you should inform yourself, if it is allowed to build your own pool at your place of residence. If there is water shortage now and then it is absolutely possible, that you are not allowed to build your own pool. It is also possible, that you are allowed to build a pool, but usage – especially filling with water – is restricted. This depends on your location and can be asked for at your municipal administration.

Notably if you want to build an in-ground pool you may run into further legal obstacles. At some places you are allowed to build a swimming pool without further ado. Then at some places this may be subject to report whereas at other places you have to apply for a permit.

The difference is as follows: Is the construction subject to report, you have to go to the municipality and report your project. Eventually you also have to submit a plan. The project will be filed and you can begin to build your own pool as you have planned. Is the construction subject to approval, you have to submit your plan to the competent authority. They review the specifications and they approve it or not or they call for modifications. It is also possible that you have to hold a construction negotiation with your neighbors, where they are allowed to call for modifications. This also depends on your location and can be asked for at your municipality. By the way you can ask if the construction of a swimming pool affects the tax on land and buildings or tax on assets.

You also have to clarify the question where you can dispose the water. Even if you live in a place, where you can use your pool all the year round you have to empty the pool once a year to thoroughly clean it. Because of the chemicals in the water it is forbidden in some places to drain it into the sewerage. Also you should not drain it into a river or a lake. In some places it is only allowed to let it seep away on your own property. But that is exactly what is forbidden elsewhere to protect the ground water. This depends on where you live and can be asked for at your municipal administration or at the public water supply.

To prevent having trouble with your insurance company afterwards you should make sure that your pool and the coping or roofing are also insured. In dependence on your location you should ask, if damage caused by hail, storm, flood waters, mud flow, avalanche, land slip, snow pressure and – if necessary – vandalism is covered.

Thus there is a lot to think about before you can start to build your own pool.

Walter Scherjau teaches mathematics, philosophy, psychology and computer science. His passions include helping people, skiing, the outdoors and exercise, DIY projects and his swimming pool.

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