Neighbour has (accidentally) emptied pool into my garden!

[Madwife123]

My garden is completely under water! Was panicking trying to work out where from and spotted my neighbours MASSIVE pool (at least 12 ft) is up against the fence and is leaking fast into my garden from a puncture. I’ve tried phoning and knocking the door of neighbour but no answer, she’s probably in bed. The water is still coming and fast. My flower beds are under at least 8 inches of water and the pool isn’t even half empty! What do I do?

Well done to your son
What a drama
I would have been hammering on the door tbh.
Hope it mostly drains away today and no serious damage

@MaryLennoxsScowl

Get in there and drag it away?

If it's 12 ft across and 3ft deep it will have around 30,000l of water in it, that's 30 tons......

I can’t believe people are being flip about this.
This happened to the people opposite us. The water flooded through their patio doors, ruined their floors and sofas and caused a lot of damage as well as drowning their garden in chlorine water.
And for people asking what the pool owners are supposed to do?
They are supposed to own a pump that can empty the pool down a drain.

So nice to hear of neighbours dealing with an issue like this in such an amicable way.

And your son is a star, OP!

I was going to suggest that you started rounding up animals in pairs and getting some wood, just in case it was more than just the pool leaking but then I do tend to overreact at times of crisis.

If it's 12 ft across and 3ft deep it will have around 30,000l of water in it, that's 30 tons......

Assuming the pool is circular and my maths is correct, it’s just less than 10 tons. Still…

@Crayfishforyou

I can’t believe people are being flip about this. This happened to the people opposite us. The water flooded through their patio doors, ruined their floors and sofas and caused a lot of damage as well as drowning their garden in chlorine water. And for people asking what the pool owners are supposed to do? They are supposed to own a pump that can empty the pool down a drain.

Perhaps they do. But since the pool sprung a leak while they were asleep in bed I'm not sure how they could have known they'd need it.

How is your garden looking this morning?

Bloody muppets with this kind of thing in gardens

Agreed.

I keep my 12ft pool in the spare bedroom...

@Hallyup6

I'm feeling quite sorry for the neighbour. Loads of people slating them for not helping but what exactly are they expected to do with a leaking pool full of water?! Gaffer tape it or drag it somewhere else? Don't make me laugh. The inability of some people to engage their brain is actually quite worrying. It'd had already had the plug pulled/hose attached and she's offered to sort any damage. Genuinely don't see what else she could have done.

Op, I hope your garden is ok this morning.

Eh???

Are you reading a different thread?

Our neighbours did this to us. Except they saw their pool leak, went out to get their fags, then waded back indoors. The water (thousands of litres) poured through the fence and flooded the garage. We had to pop a manhole cover and direct the water into it - which they should have done from their side. Their garden is on a slope, so the pool was always going to fail and flood our way.
For the people saying the neighbour can't do anything, maybe. But it is the neighbour's problem. The extra water should not flow onto your land, and they should ensure it doesn't flood the property. Any damage to your garden is there's to pay for.

Is anybody else getting this advert on this page?? 😏 Are these your neighbors?

@Bargebill19

Not exactly helpful - but take as many photos as you can immediately. You may need to claim on their or your insurance for any lessor damage and repairs.

This!

I would ask her to pay for any damage, but if she refuses get in touch with your insurance.

epaper.thetimes.co.uk/the-times/20210723/281638193228849

Bigger paddling pool craze prompts water supply fears

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Our next door neighbours bought one of these very large paddling pools last year for their two children. For three weeks, during that really hot spell when we all needed to keep our windows open, we had hours of constant screaming, shrieking and yelling at the top of their voices.

Every morning, their mother would be outside at 7am with a fishing net, fishing leaves and debris out of the water (despite it having been covered all night), then repeatedly banging the net against something metal or wooden to empty the debris out. Nearly drove us insane.

@WorraLiberty

Bloody muppets with this kind of thing in gardens

Agreed.

I keep my 12ft pool in the spare bedroom...

I remember as a child I filled a small paddling pool in my bedroom for my dolls to play in… Resulted in very cross parents and a new carpet!

How has your garden survived today OP?

Of course OP was on her phone. She was doing something very useful, tapping the collective knowledge of MN.

@ThisIsMyID

I know you're gutted about your garden. But realistically - what are you expecting your neighbour to do about a burst pool?

Use their sump pump to at least try and pump some of the water directly into a drain? Might not be much especially if the leak is low down the pool, but could mitigate some water going into the OP's garden.

@ThisIsMyID

I know you're gutted about your garden. But realistically - what are you expecting your neighbour to do about a burst pool?

As usual people are expected to accept poor manners from a neighbour! The very minimum the neighbour could have done is come round and apologise for the mess being created, the water will take ages to soak in as the ground it very hard. Keep knocking until they decide to acknowledge you.

I always empty our large pool onto the grass (over a few days rather than a few hours), our soakaway can't cope with the volume of water and too far away from the drains. Grass seems pretty unaffected by the chlorine, just to let you know. In fact, in September its always the most lush part of the garden after having been flooded for a few days.

How’s it looking today OP?

Our neighbour bought one of those best way giant soft side pools, forgetting her back gardens on a near 45° slope so put it out the front on the flat gravel. One of her dc crashed into the side with a lilo, it collapsed. Literally washed all her and next doors gravel down the hill. I do believe next door were fucking raging, quite rightfully.

They keep trying to give it to us now, our gardens slopes slightly but Theresa we have a large patio. I'm having NONE of it now I know the damage caused.

Hope you managed to salvage the sunflowers for your DD!
And yes, hope it's all drained away today, although possibly not with heavy clay soil.

@WorraLiberty

Bloody muppets with this kind of thing in gardens

Agreed.

I keep my 12ft pool in the spare bedroom...

🤣

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

I was going to suggest that you started rounding up animals in pairs and getting some wood, just in case it was more than just the pool leaking but then I do tend to overreact at times of crisis.

🤣🤣🤣🤣