We have a 24' x 48" round AGP that was installed 2 years ago. We purchased the pool from Watson's (its their in-house Mighty Sun brand) and basic installation was included in the purchase price of the pool. Both the in-house salesman and the actual installer specifically instructed us to back fill around the pool using the dirt that had been disturbed during the leveling process. We were told to go about 10 inches or so up the base of the pool wall, and then slope the soil away so that water would run away from the pool. We followed their directions and everything has been fine.