Pool Plumbing Diagram & Overflow System Layout
Design, Circulation and Hydraulic Balance
Beneath every calm surface lies an invisible structure.
In an infinity or deck-level pool, that structure becomes an art of precision — every line of pipe, every millimetre of level, every valve adjustment defines how still the water remains.
The balance of an overflow edge is never achieved by chance. It is the outcome of a perfectly drawn pool plumbing diagram, where hydraulic design meets architectural intention. At Morana Water Design, we approach circulation as a composition — water as the medium, engineering as the language, and stillness as the result.
Understanding this hidden layout means understanding how form and function merge to create silence, balance and movement that appear effortless.
What Defines a Pool Hydraulic System?
A pool’s hydraulic system is the foundation of its stability. Every litre follows a carefully orchestrated circuit — drawn from skimmers or drains, filtered and treated, then returned through wall inlets. In overflow designs, this circulation must also sustain the perfect edge level.
While the same principles apply to any pool, their consequences are amplified in overflow designs.In a skimmer pool, a few litres of imbalance go unnoticed.In an infinity pool, a single miscalculation changes the horizon line.That is why the hydraulic layout must be conceived as an integrated architecture rather than a collection of independent components.
Understanding the Pool Plumbing Diagram
The pool plumbing diagram is not merely a technical drawing; it is the pool’s DNA.
It maps every pipe, valve and fitting, defining the direction, pressure and purpose of each circuit.
A well-designed hydraulic layout ensures that water moves evenly, silently and economically.
It prevents turbulence near the overflow edge, balances suction and discharge lines, and maintains optimal flow across all returns.
In high-end projects, these diagrams also anticipate the visual impact: the way circulation supports the mirror-like surface, the sound of the cascade, the stillness of reflection.
Infinity and Zero-Edge Systems: Where Design Meets Flow
Overflow pools reveal what ordinary pools conceal.
They expose the dialogue between gravity and precision, where the slightest deviation can break the water’s perfect stillness.
Designing a pool plumbing layout for an infinity or zero-edge system requires a different mindset.
Flow must rise uniformly along the edge.
The balancing tank must be calibrated for rainfall, evaporation, and user load.
Each return inlet must sustain the surface without creating turbulence.
The result is an invisible choreography: water ascending gently from the floor, gliding silently towards the onfnity or perimeter edge, and vanishing in a continuous line.
For complete guidance on bringing this vision to life, explore our infinity pool construction guide.
System Typologies and Hydraulic Layouts
Not all systems behave the same way.
A skimmer pool relies on surface suction; an overflow or zero-edge pool depends on flow regulation and perfect level tolerance.
In skimmer systems, the water level sits below the coping — the circulation is contained.
In overflow systems, the pool’s identity depends on how precisely that level is maintained.
Each system requires a tailored hydraulic design — skimmers prioritise efficiency, and overflows also demand visual perfection.
At Morana Water Design, these layouts are not drawn from templates but designed from observation through bespoke technical drawings — the slope of the land, the geometry of the basin, the position of the view.
Morana's advice 👇
Hydraulic design and pool architecture are inseparable — one serves the other.
A flawless plumbing layout means nothing if it doesn’t support the pool’s visual identity. Conversely, the most beautiful design fails without hydraulic precision to sustain it.
At Morana Water Design, we ensure both elements work in harmony: the engineering that makes it possible, the design that makes it extraordinary.
Get the right support for your pool project.
Design Integration and Technical Room Planning
A refined pool system depends on invisible precision.
The pump room layout, pipe distances and relative heights all determine how efficiently water circulates.
Every metre of pipe, every change in direction adds resistance — and resistance affects the stillness of the water.
In overflow designs, the height difference between the balancing tank and the pool edge must be calculated to the millimetre.
Pressure tests, flow adjustments and leak checks are performed before concreting, because once the structure is sealed, perfection must be permanent.
Energy Efficiency and Flow Regulation
Modern hydraulic systems are no longer static.
Variable-speed pumps and intelligent valves now allow continuous flow regulation, adjusting energy use without compromising balance.
In infinity pools, these technologies are invaluable.
They maintain a stable overflow line even when the number of bathers, wind intensity or temperature changes.
The reward is both aesthetic and ecological: less noise, less consumption, more balance.
Morana’s Vision – Engineering the Perfect Flow
At Morana Water Design, we treat hydraulic design as a form of architecture — invisible, silent, precise. Each pool plumbing diagram we draw is both a technical document and a composition of movement. Every return, drain and overflow edge is calculated to maintain equilibrium and grace.
In a well-designed system, the water no longer fights gravity; it collaborates with it. That is when hydraulics become design — and design becomes stillness.
” Perfection is not visible — it’s calibrated .”
The Foundation of Every Great Pool
A pool plumbing diagram is more than technical documentation — it’s the blueprint of water in motion. Whether you’re planning a simple circulation system or engineering an infinity edge that defies gravity, the hydraulic layout determines everything that follows.
The difference between a functional pool and an exceptional one lies in these invisible calculations: the pipe that routes flow without turbulence, the valve that balances pressure to the millimetre, the return that sustains perfect stillness.
At Morana Water Design, we believe that great pools begin with great plans. Because once concrete sets and water fills the basin, precision becomes permanent.
Ready to engineer your perfect flow?
Overflow Pool System Design – Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the hydraulic design of an infinity pool different?
Infinity and zero-edge pools make water behaviour visible. Their hydraulic design requires symmetrical circulation and millimetric level control. Even a few millimetres of imbalance can disturb the mirror-like edge, so every circuit must be calculated and tested precisely.
How do you draw a pool plumbing diagram for an overflow system?
Each pipe and return line is drawn according to the pool's geometry, the edge type (infinity, deck-level or knife-edge), and the balancing tank's capacity. This custom approach ensures optimal performance for each specific site.
What causes imbalance on a zero-edge pool?
Imbalance usually results from uneven flow distribution or an undersized balancing tank. Correct hydraulic calibration—adjusting flow rates and return line symmetry—restores the even rise of water across the edge.
How can automation maintain a perfectly level water line?
Automation systems using variable-speed pumps, sensors, and electronic valves can adjust circulation in real time. They compensate for rainfall, evaporation, and user load to maintain a stable, silent overflow line while saving energy.