ipvfletch,
Tree roots can move pipe enough to pull apart fittings.
Roots can also enter small pinholes where pipe fittings are glued to the pipe. I've seen roots cause these types of leaks. It usually takes a long time for these types of things to happen.

OK, that was my fear.

Is there anything I can do to prevent this before we backfill? Can I toss some black plastic weedblock over it? Can I cut the root tips (will that kill them?) and hit them with some pruning sealant?

I have a bunch of roots right by most of my pipes, and I'm a bit worried I will be digging this all up again to perform repairs down the road some day..

ipvfletch,
The problem doesn't happen that often and is usually the result of 10-20 years of growth. I've never been real concerned with the plumbing because it is under the deck and if the roots grow the deck is usually displaced first.
You can use soil cement to inhibit root growth in the trenches. It's just a mixture of soil and cement used to backfill and compact those areas that may be most vulnerable. Good luck.

Understand the idea of soil-cement, but wouldn't that just add more pressure to the lines, because the roots would push the cement into the pipes? Or do you mean make a huge canal out of cement which the roots will NOT be able to push around?

I think for now I'm going to loosely pack the dirt there and hope that is sufficient. It will not be under decking but just grass, at least for now..

The soil cement just provides a dense area around the pipe that doesn't allow roots to grow near the pipe. The soil in a trench is usually looser and the roots will travel along the path of least resistance. The roots displace soil and anything else in their way as they grow. I don't know of any way to completely protect the pipe without moving it or removing the source of the roots.

Around here most of the trenches are backfilled with rebound. The gunite that does not stick. Ironically, the most desired trees, palms, are the worst offenders. They'll tear up a line pretty fast. Especially jet lines.

Repair_guy
What do you mean by Palms are the worst offenders.? I don't have a spa, but I have a baby palm located right next to my pool.
Is this something that I need to be concerned about??

In our expansive soil it seems the palm roots love to wrap around and bump pipe when within about 6 feet of the waters edge. That's just here. See a 15' palm, it's a sure thing the deck is lifting and the plumbing is next if close to the edge.

I have repaired many a sprinkler line from tree roots crushing the pvc pipe. These trees were 15+years old. Never seen a palm do it.

repair guy,

I have an area near my pool with a 12" RBB. There are three 5-7 year-old queen palms in this area. All three were preexisting when we dug our pool about 12 months ago. Two of them are probably about 3-4 feet from the waterline. The other is about 6-8 feet. There is no decking in this area. The only pipe that goes near this spot is the pool return line.

Do I have to begin worrying about this?

We have many Palms and last year I was on a mission to eradicate all the queens and replace them with foxtails. I removed 15 queens and found a number of them had intertwined with the plumbing, I am in the middle of a spa addition now and upon excavating the old lines I found a MAJOR root ball that had completely encased the pool feed & return lines. I never sensed a leak but when we cut it away we found roots had grown into the line and had worked about 6 feet towards the pool. We joking suggested we should leave it... "How cool would it be having a palm growing up and out of the pool" but I digress. we lined the run with cement to keep this from happening again. Ill tell you in 10 to 20 years if it worked :)

Please help me decide.
We have a small yard and have about 5' on the backside and 7' at the rear of the pool(between coping and fence). What trees especially palms would be best for me to use with the limited space and close proximity to the pool?
I wish to create my oasis along with a little shade/privacy.
Thanks in advance

THIS IS NO PROBLEM IN THE NORTHEAST