Pools in South Louisiana are more than just backyard features—they’re part of the lifestyle. But in a region where heavy rainfall and flash flooding are as common as crawfish boils and hurricanes, pools face challenges that pool owners in drier climates rarely have to consider. The truth is, water outside the pool can do more damage than water inside it—especially when it shows up all at once.
Understanding how heavy rain and flooding affect pool integrity is essential in this part of the country. Soil conditions, drainage, and fluctuating water tables combine to create unique risks. Pools aren’t just designed to hold water—they’re built to resist pressure from underneath and around them. When the balance of water in the ground shifts, it can take the pool with it.
Hydrostatic Pressure: The Hidden Threat Underneath
In normal conditions, the water inside the pool helps balance the pressure from the soil and groundwater beneath it. But after prolonged rain or flooding, the water table rises and the soil becomes oversaturated. That water starts pushing up against the pool shell. This pressure—called hydrostatic pressure—is a force that can crack, shift, or even lift an in-ground pool if the water inside isn’t heavy enough to counteract it.
One of the most common mistakes is draining a pool after a storm in an attempt to clean it. Doing so removes the weight that was holding the shell in place, and if the water level outside the pool is high, it can lead to the shell floating or “popping.” In severe cases, the entire pool can lift out of the ground.
A well-built pool includes hydrostatic relief valves to help mitigate this pressure, but even those can only do so much when rainfall is extreme or persistent. Keeping the pool properly filled, even during a flood, is one of the simplest ways to protect it from pressure-related damage.
Soil Erosion and Washout Beneath the Deck
After a heavy downpour, especially in areas where the ground doesn’t drain well, soil erosion becomes a concern. Water rushing over the pool deck or flowing around the structure can carry away the dirt supporting the pool shell and plumbing lines. Over time, this erosion leads to gaps beneath the concrete or pavers. These voids can cause cracks in the deck, shifting tiles, and sagging sections of concrete.
Even if the pool shell itself remains intact, the surrounding area can show signs of stress. Deck movement can eventually damage coping or skimmers and compromise the waterproof seal around the pool perimeter. Once erosion starts, it rarely stops on its own—it usually needs to be corrected before it worsens.
In Metairie and surrounding areas, where the soil is often clay-heavy and slow to drain, the risk of deck damage from erosion is especially high after repeated flooding events.
Contamination from Floodwater
When floodwaters rise and enter a pool, they bring more than just rain. Runoff carries debris, silt, bacteria, fertilizers, oils, and chemicals from nearby surfaces. In short, everything that was on the street, the lawn, or the neighbor’s driveway can end up in the pool. This contamination can throw off the pool’s chemical balance, clog filtration systems, and create an environment ripe for algae and bacteria growth.
Restoring a flooded pool to a safe, usable condition often involves draining and refilling, but not without caution. It’s also necessary to inspect filters, pumps, chlorinators, and other systems to make sure nothing was damaged or overwhelmed by the dirty water. A full clean-up should always include sanitizing the water and ensuring the equipment isn’t clogged or corroded.
Electrical and Mechanical Concerns
Heavy rain and flood conditions can also affect the pool’s mechanical and electrical systems. Equipment like pumps, heaters, lights, and control panels are vulnerable to water damage if they’re not elevated or properly sealed. Submerged equipment poses a serious electrical hazard and should never be powered back on without a professional inspection.
In high-risk flood zones, equipment should be installed on elevated pads above known flood levels. This not only protects the equipment from damage but also reduces long-term maintenance costs. Flooding can cause motors to short out, circuit boards to corrode, and automation systems to fail—all of which can lead to costly repairs if not addressed quickly.
Prevention Through Design and Maintenance
Many problems caused by flooding can be minimized with proper design and regular maintenance. A good drainage system around the pool helps keep water from pooling near the shell or flowing underneath it. Pool decks should be sloped to direct water away, not toward the basin. In-ground plumbing lines should be secure and properly backfilled to prevent movement or collapse.
It’s also important to keep an eye out after a storm. Signs like loose tiles, cracking along the waterline, uneven decking, or air bubbles in return jets can indicate damage beneath the surface. These symptoms don’t always appear immediately after a flood—they can take days or weeks to show up.
Preventative inspections after major weather events help catch minor issues before they become structural problems. In South Louisiana, where weather extremes are part of the environment, a proactive approach always costs less than a reactive one.
Final Thoughts
Pools are built to hold water—but not to fight against it from all sides. Heavy rain and flooding impact more than just the water chemistry. They can compromise the pool shell, erode its foundation, damage the deck, and ruin equipment. Understanding how water interacts with every part of the pool system helps protect that investment through even the wettest storm season.
Design, construction, and maintenance all play a role. When each piece is managed properly, pools in flood-prone regions like Metairie can withstand a lot. But it takes vigilance and planning to ensure that a fun, relaxing backyard feature doesn’t turn into a costly repair project after the next downpour.
