Outdoor showers: what you need to know

An outdoor shower is one of the best things to have near the beach. Rinse off the sand and salt before you come inside, wash down after the pool, or hose off the dog. They can be as simple as a cold rinse-off on the side wall or a full hot and cold shower in the backyard. The key things to get right are the water supply, the drainage and where it goes. Here's what to plan for.

Options

Drainage: the part to get right

• If people will use soap, shampoo or body wash, the water generally needs to go to the sewer, not the garden or stormwater, because stormwater flows straight to the beach untreated.
• That usually means a floor waste or grated drain under the shower, connected to the sewer with the right fall and a trap.
• Rules can vary, so we confirm the right drainage for your shower before we start.
• The ground under the shower should be paved or have a proper base so it doesn't turn to mud.

Other things to plan

• Position: close to the back door, pool gate or side path, and away from the neighbour's windows.
• Materials that suit salt air: marine-grade or coastal-rated fittings last longer near the beach.
• A temperature-safe hot supply, and backflow protection where needed.
• An isolation valve so the shower can be turned off for repairs.

We'll look at your site, explain the drainage options and give you a fixed price before any work starts.

In southern Eastern Suburbs homes

Beach-side homes in Maroubra, Malabar, Coogee and Little Bay are where outdoor showers make the most sense. Salt air is hard on cheap fittings, so we recommend coastal-rated tapware.

Related help: taps and fittings, garden taps, where does sewage and stormwater go? and stormwater. Local pages: Maroubra, Malabar, Coogee and Little Bay.