Draining
Draining a pool
Phoenix says not to drain pool water into the street, alley, or city right of way.
This is an independent referral guide. It connects homeowners with independent providers and may receive compensation. It is not a licensed contractor and it does not do the work.
Large amounts
To empty the whole pool, Phoenix says to put the water down the home's sewer cleanout.
Flow rate
The maximum recommended discharge is 12 gallons per minute (720 per hour). Phoenix suggests renting a submersible pump of about 700 gallons per hour, since most filter pumps move water too fast.
Finding the cleanout
It is usually next to the house nearest the sewer line, often outside a bathroom or kitchen. With alleys, it is probably in the back yard. Phoenix warns that using a cleanout in the wall is risky.
Watch for backups
Check shower and tub drains right away and stop the pump if water backs up.
Sources
Public pages, linked so you can read the source yourself. Rules change, so confirm the current version with the agency before you rely on it.
Ask about your Ahwatukee yard
Say the neighborhood or ZIP code, the yard size, and whether the lot slopes or backs onto open desert.