Overflow system for recreational pools

A recreational pool comprising:

• a perimeter wall defining a boundary for the recreational pool, the perimeter wall having a top of wall elevation above a normal water level elevation of the recreational pool;
• and
• an overflow system comprising,
• a drain mounted to a bottom of the recreational pool;
• a drain pipe extending substantially horizontally from the drain under the perimeter wall to outside the boundary;
• a standpipe positioned outside the perimeter wall and having a first end and an open second end, the first end coupled to the drain pipe and the second open end of the standpipe having an overflow elevation between the normal water level elevation for the recreational pool and the top of wall elevation;
• and
• a recirculation pipe having a first end in fluid communication with the recreational pool and a second end in fluid communication with the standpipe proximate the second open end.

A method of controlling an overflow system for a recreational pool, the recreational pool comprising a perimeter wall defining a boundary and having a top of wall elevation above a normal water level elevation of the recreational pool, the method comprising:

• mounting a drain to a bottom of the recreational pool;
• extending a drain pipe substantially horizontally from the drain under the perimeter wall to outside the boundary;
• positioning a standpipe outside the perimeter wall, the standpipe having a first end and an open second end wherein the first end is coupled to the drain pipe and the second open end of the standpipe has an overflow elevation set between the normal water level elevation for the recreational pool and the top of wall elevation;
• coupling a recirculation pipe having a first end in fluid communication with the recreational pool and a second end in fluid communication with the standpipe proximate the second open end;
• and
• circulating water from the recreational pool to the standpipe and through the drain pipe back to the recreational pool using the recirculation pipe to prevent stagnation of the water in the drain pipe when a water level in the recreational pool is at the normal water level or below.