Draining a Hot Tub or Spa Page 2

If deck drains cannot accommodate the flow, connect several vacuum or backwash hoses together and run the wastewater into the street where it is carried to storm drains. Again,
watch the flow and make sure after a few minutes it has not backed up a storm drain and begun to flood the street. In areas where water conservation is a concern, drain the hot tub
when the chlorine residual has gone below 1 ppm, then let the flow irrigate lawns and gardens. Another technique along these lines is to punch holes along the length of a backwash hose (or old vacuum hose) and seal up the discharge end (tie a knot in a backwash hose, or use plumbing fittings to close the vacuum hose). This acts as a huge sprinkler, evenly distributing the water across lawns and gardens. One other word of warning about deck drains. They are usually made of PVC, but since they don't carry water under pressure, they are not usually pressure-tested. If ground movement or other erosion has destabilized them, the pipe may have separated and much of your wastewater will end up eroding the backfill around the hot tub. If you have any doubts about the integrity of the deck drain or its ability to handle the water, run hoses into the street.

In some jurisdictions there may be restrictions on pumping out pools and hot tubs relative to the permissible volume and even the permissible chemical makeup. Extremely low pH water may have to be neutralized before you pump it into municipal stormwater or sewer lines. Check your local codes before turning on the pump.