A sketch can place the pool on the site. It cannot tell a contractor how the overflow edge is built, what volume the balance tank needs, or where the pipework runs before the slab is poured. A complete set of plans is what makes the pool buildable by a local contractor, not a DIY sketch.
For the construction plans and hydraulic drawings we produce, see our pool plans page.
Infinity edge or zero-edge: choosing the right overflow system
Infinity edge overflows are the oldest. On one or more sides of the main pool, a weir replaces the coping so that the water spills out. It then flows to a gutter below and then to the filtration system. If the site has sloped ground, this configuration works well regardless of whether panoramic views are available.
Zero-edge pools, with water at the same level as the terrace, are ideal for flat sites. Water collected in the gutters surrounding the pool flows into a balance tank, from which the filtration pump draws the water for filtration.
Most of these in-ground pools are built from reinforced concrete (poured, shotcrete, or formwork blocks).
Beyond the visual effect, the overflow system ensures high water quality. Choosing between an infinity edge and a deck-level pool depends on the site conditions and the project brief. For a detailed overview of how infinity pools work, see our infinity pool construction guide.
How to approach the design of an infinity pool
A zero-edge pool or an infinity pool can be drawn in various ways.
A basic outline places the pool on the land, and a section indicates the depth profile. This level of drawing is sufficient to file a planning declaration and brief a contractor, but it leaves many technical questions unanswered: how is the overflow edge constructed? What volume is required for the balance tank? Where are the pool fittings positioned?
A complete set of plans resolves all of these questions. It includes the pool geometry and dimensions, the hydraulic piping layout, the overflow edge detail, the balance tank sizing, and the plant room design. Each element is interdependent: a change in pool depth affects the volume, which affects the pump sizing, which affects the pipe diameters.
For infinity and overflow pools, a plan produced by a specialist designer gives any construction team, whether a pool builder or a general contractor unfamiliar with overflow construction, the technical information needed to build correctly. That is how we work: the contractor is local, the drawings are not.
Infinity pool design plan by Morana Water Design – pool geometry, depth profile and overflow edge detailEquipment
The plant room of an infinity or overflow pool contains the filtration pump and filter, the electrical control panel, the balance tank level regulation system, a non-return valve, and an automatic top-up valve.
Optional equipment, counter-current swimming, submerged roller shutters, heat pump, in-floor cleaning system, must be specified before construction begins. Some require housing to be built into the pool shell; they cannot be added retrospectively without structural intervention.
Morana's advice
An infinity pool plan is the foundation of a successful project. The visual result, a stable overflow line, even water distribution, and reliable filtration are determined by decisions made on paper before the first excavation begins. A plan that resolves the hydraulic system completely is not a luxury; it is the only way to ensure the pool performs as designed.
A complete set of infinity pool plans typically includes several documents: a plan view showing the pool geometry and dimensions, sectional drawings showing depth profiles and overflow edge detail, a hydraulic piping layout, and a plant room design. Each document addresses a specific stage of the construction process and gives the contractor the information needed to build without improvisation.
Frequently Asked Questions — Infinity pool plans
What does an infinity pool plan set include?
Layout, sections, overflow edge, gutter, balance tank, pipe runs and plant room. A sketch of the basin is not that set.
Is a concept sketch enough to build?
No. A contractor cannot hold weir levels, tank volume or pipe diameters from a sketch. Those figures are on the construction drawings.
Where do I get the drawings themselves?
The drawing set we produce is on the infinity pool construction drawings page. This article explains what the set has to contain.
