What is Hydraulic Engineering?

Hydraulic Engineering is the science of how water moves through your pool’s pipes and equipment.

While a pool builder focuses on the “box” (the concrete and tiles), a hydraulic engineer focuses on the “bloodstream.” If you think of your pool like a human body, hydraulics is the circulatory system.

The “Body” Analogy

To make it easy to visualize, here is how the parts work together:

The Pump (The Heart): It pushes the water through the system.

The Pipes (The Veins & Arteries): They carry the water to and from the pool.

The Filter (The Kidneys): It cleans the “blood” (water) before sending it back.

The Jets (The Circulation): They ensure the clean water reaches every “extremity” (corner) of the pool so nothing gets stagnant.

Why does “Engineering” matter (and not just “Plumbing”)?

Standard plumbing is just connecting Point A to Point B. Hydraulic Engineering is about doing it with math to ensure three things:

1. Efficiency (The Drinking Straw Rule): Imagine trying to drink a thick milkshake through a tiny, bendy straw. You have to suck really hard, right? That’s what happens when pipes are too small or have too many sharp turns. Engineering ensures the “straw” (pipes) is the perfect size so the pump doesn’t have to work as hard, which lowers your electricity bill.

2. Health (No Dead Zones): Have you ever seen a pool with a green, slimy corner even though the rest is clear? That’s a “dead zone” where the water isn’t moving. An engineered system maps out exactly where the water enters and leaves so that 100% of the water is constantly being filtered.

3. Safety & Quiet: When water is forced through pipes that are poorly designed, it creates “friction” and “turbulence.” This makes the pump noisy and creates high-pressure suction that can be a safety hazard. Engineering makes the water move silently and safely.

The Northern Sydney Connection

In our area, with our heavy clay soil and large trees (like those in Wahroonga or Turramurra), the ground moves. A “standard” plumbing job might snap under that pressure. An engineered system uses specific layouts and high-grade materials designed to handle that underground stress without leaking.

Find out how you can improve your pool system