How to drain a hot tub or cold plunge in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas and Reno

Key facts by city

Sources: Clark County, Proper Disposal of Residential Pool and Spa Water; City of Las Vegas, Water Quality FAQ; City of Henderson, How to Drain Your Pool or Spa; City of North Las Vegas, Pool and Hot Tub Draining; Truckee Meadows Stormwater Program; Southern Nevada Health District, Pool Draining Guide for Properties with Septic Systems; Las Vegas Valley Water District, Pool and spa tips.

Why the valley sends spa water to the sewer

The Las Vegas Valley has two separate drainage systems. The City of Las Vegas explains that the sanitary sewer carries household wastewater to a treatment plant, while the storm sewer carries runoff without treatment. Clark County's flyer spells out the consequence: water that enters a storm drain flows directly into Lake Mead, so chlorine meant to kill bacteria in a spa ends up harming fish. Putting spa water into the sewer also lets it be treated, recycled and reused, which the Las Vegas Valley Water District and Henderson both point out.

Finding the cleanout

Every agency describes the same fitting. Clark County and the water district say the sewer cleanout port is usually 3 to 4 inches across with a clamped rubber cover or threaded cap, most often at ground level in the front yard landscaping close to the house. It can also be embedded in a driveway or garage floor, or set in a wall. Clark County adds a useful clue: an S stamped on the front curb usually marks where the sewer service line enters, and the cleanout is typically on that line about 5 feet from the house. Henderson says the primary port is usually near a spigot, and North Las Vegas says to look by the hose bib, sometimes inside a green box. The City of Las Vegas notes that a buried cleanout may need a licensed plumber or pipe contractor to locate it, or a new port installed.

Draining a hot tub, step by step

1. Turn off power to the tub at the breaker, as Henderson's steps do for pool pumps, so the heater and pump cannot run dry.
2. Run a hose from a submersible pump in the footwell, or the tub's own drain with a pump, to the open cleanout. Make sure the hose sits securely inside the pipe without blocking the main flow.
3. Keep the flow at or below 12 to 15 gallons per minute, the limit in Clark County's flyer, and run it during low use hours such as the afternoon or late night.
4. Watch the hose, which can jump out under pressure, and watch the lowest drains inside the home. If water backs up, stop the pump and call a plumber or licensed pool service.
5. Treat the hose as contaminated after it has been in a sewer pipe, Henderson advises, and use it only for the same job in future.

At 12 gallons per minute, a 400 gallon tub such as the MyHotTub Mazara takes a little over half an hour to empty, and a 95 gallon Penguin Chillers acrylic plunge about 8 minutes. Those times are simple division at that rate, so your pump may be slower.

City by city differences in the south

Las Vegas. The city's Water Quality FAQ says pool discharges go to the sanitary sewer cleanout. If the cleanout cannot be located, or the home is on septic, the city may grant permission to discharge into the street gutter, one time only for sewered properties. Requests go to the environmental officer at EOS@lasvegasnevada.gov or 702 229 7318. Local stormwater rules are in Chapter 14.18 of the Las Vegas Municipal Code, and liquid dumping into the street can be reported to Environmental Compliance at 702 229 6594.

Henderson. Henderson's brochure says gutter or street draining violates the city's Water Conservation Ordinance and can result in fines on your water bill. Septic homes are exempt from that restriction but must dechlorinate and call the city at 702 267 5900 first.

North Las Vegas. The city says it is unlawful to drain a pool, hot tub or whirlpool bath into the street or storm drain where the public sewer is available, and allows any private connection: a sewer lateral access port, sink, toilet or bathtub. It suggests a drain cap on the outside wall by the kitchen sink as one option. Violations can bring water waste penalties or discontinuance of service.

Unincorporated Clark County. Spring Valley, Enterprise, Paradise and the other unincorporated areas follow the county flyer: sewer only, 12 to 15 gallons per minute, and a dechlorinated discharge to the storm system only for homes on septic, released slowly to avoid erosion.

Septic homes

Section 11.4 of the Southern Nevada Health District's septic regulations prohibits putting pool or spa water, or filter backwash, into or over a septic system, which would overload it. The district sends owners to the local agency: Henderson Utility Services at 702 267 3670, North Las Vegas Utilities at 702 633 1275, Las Vegas Environmental Compliance at 702 229 6594, Clark County Water Quality at 702 668 8674 or Boulder City Public Works at 702 293 9200. The district adds that pool water should be dechlorinated.

Reno, Sparks and Washoe County

Northern Nevada's rules are framed around the storm drain rather than the sewer. The Truckee Meadows Stormwater Program, run jointly by Reno, Sparks and Washoe County, lists chlorinated pool water among prohibited discharges and dechlorinated swimming pool discharges among permissible ones. Its flyer explains that untreated stormwater flows into local creeks and the Truckee River, which supplies 80 percent of the Truckee Meadows Water Authority's customers' drinking water and ends at Pyramid Lake. The program does not publish a sewer cleanout procedure like Clark County's, so before pumping into your cleanout, call Reno Environmental Control at 775 334 4230 or the stormwater line at 775 334 2350. Sparks residents can call Environmental Control at 775 861 4152, and unincorporated Washoe County residents can use Washoe311.

Cold plunges and filter rinse water

A plunge usually holds treated or sanitized water too, so treat it the same way as a spa. The City of Las Vegas allows pool filters to be cleaned in a landscaped area that holds the sediment, but not in the street gutter unless the residue is captured. Clark County treats filter backwash in the storm drain as a violation. Draining less often helps everywhere: the water district notes that covers cut evaporation by up to 90 percent, and less top up water means chemistry stays stable longer.

Related guides

• How to drain a hot tub or cold plunge in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Tampa, Phoenix and Seattle
• Hot tub permits and electrical in Las Vegas and Clark County
• NV Energy time of use with a hot tub, sauna or cold plunge
• Cold plunge chiller power in Las Vegas
• Hot tubs and cold plunges in North Las Vegas: permits, power and draining
• Sparks, Nevada permits for hot tubs, saunas and cold plunges

Frequently asked questions

Where do I drain a hot tub in Las Vegas?

Into your property's sanitary sewer cleanout, not the street, gutter or a storm drain. The City of Las Vegas describes the cleanout as typically a 3 inch capped plastic pipe near ground level in front of the home. Clark County asks for a pump of no more than 12 to 15 gallons per minute, run during low use hours such as the afternoon or late night.

Can I drain my hot tub into the street in Henderson?

No. The City of Henderson says draining a pool or spa into the gutter or street violates its Water Conservation Ordinance and can bring fines on your water bill. Homes on septic are the exception: they must dechlorinate and notify the city at 702 267 5900 before discharging to the gutter or street.

Can I drain a hot tub into the storm drain in Reno?

Not with chlorinated water. The Truckee Meadows Stormwater Program, which covers Reno, Sparks and Washoe County, lists chlorinated pool water as a prohibited discharge and dechlorinated swimming pool discharges as permissible. Storm drains carry water untreated to local creeks and the Truckee River.

Can I drain a hot tub into my septic tank in Southern Nevada?

No. Southern Nevada Health District regulations prohibit disposing of pool or spa water, or filter backwash, into or over a septic system. Contact your city or Clark County Water Quality for instructions.

What if I cannot find my sewer cleanout in Las Vegas?

The City of Las Vegas says it can be buried in landscaping and may need to be located by a licensed plumber, or a new port installed. If it cannot be located, the city may grant one time permission to discharge to the street gutter; ask the environmental officer at EOS@lasvegasnevada.gov or 702 229 7318.

How do I drain a hot tub in North Las Vegas?

Into the sewer through a private connection. North Las Vegas lists a sewer lateral access port, sink, toilet or bathtub, and suggests looking for the cleanout by the hose bib, sometimes inside a green box, or for a drain cap on the outside wall by the kitchen sink.

Why can't spa water go in a Las Vegas storm drain?

Clark County says water entering a storm drain flows to Lake Mead without being treated, so chlorine and other chemicals harm aquatic life. Releasing pool water or filter backwash into the storm drain system violates Clark County Code Chapter 24.40.

Which way of draining is best for a wall mounted cleanout?

Go slowly. Clark County and Henderson both warn that cleanouts in an exterior wall increase the chance of water backing up into the home. Watch the lowest drains in the house and stop the pump if anything rises.

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