Termites and Poly Pipe: Can They Damage Swimming Pool Plumbing?

Termites generally exhibit wood-consuming behavior to obtain cellulose for sustenance. Therefore, they possess enzymes like cellulase that enable the efficient decomposition of organic materials with high cellulose content like wood and plant materials. Polyethylene (PE) pipes commonly employed in swimming pools do not contain cellulose or wood components. Instead, they comprise long chains of hydrocarbon polymers derived from fossil fuels. Since termites lack enzymes adapted to digest hydrocarbons, consuming polyethylene pipes is highly improbable. Therefore, termites do not normally feed on poly pipes utilized in swimming pools.