A new federal law regarding the safety of public pools and spas will go into effect today and could bring trouble to neighborhood swimming pools.
The law, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, sets new guidelines for a pool's cover and drainage system to prevent suction entrapment.
Public outdoor pools in the area won't have to comply with the new law until they open this spring, but Jim Conley, the president of the CSRA Swim League, said neighborhoods may have some trouble bringing their outdoor pools up to code before they open, which could jeopardize the summer swim season.
Mr. Conley said upgrading the pools could cost as much as $3,000 each.
"I would anticipate that the majority of pools in the area would not be in compliance," he said. "It's too early to say what would happen if these pools have to close. We're just trying to be incredibly proactive about the situation."
The law was named for the granddaughter of former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, who died when she was trapped underwater by a suction drain in a spa in 2002.
The Richmond County Recreation Department's two public pools are not in compliance with the new law.
However, Roger Wexler, aquatics supervisor at the Augusta Aquatics Center, said his department has taken the appropriate steps to make sure the indoor pools at the aquatics center and the Brigham Swim Center remain open and up to code.
"At the aquatics center we're working to get there," Mr. Wexler said.
"We feel confident that all we have to do is get the right entrapment covers, and we're in the process of getting that. One of the biggest problems has been the lack of entrapment covers available."
High demand on necessary parts because of today's deadline has left some indoor pool facilities throughout the nation lacking the proper upgrades and facing possible closure.
Mr. Wexler said he didn't expect either of the county's indoor pools to be shut down despite the deadline.
"As long as we're trying to comply with it, we should be OK," Mr. Wexler said. "We're not concerned with any safety issues on that."
The Consumer Product Safety Commission, in charge of enforcement of the law, issued a statement on Monday with their enforcement intentions.
"Considering the limited resources and enormous mission of the agency, CPSC will prioritize enforcement of the law to facilities that pose the greatest risk of drain entrapment to children," the statement said.
Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com
Comments
Good law for public pools. Would seem like owners would want to upgrade without a law if only for safety reasons or insuracnce companies could simply say "you aren't insured" until you upgrade and then their would be no need for a law, additional compliance checks, etc.
I know it is different for a public pool because of hygene issues but but we enver allow our pumps to run when the pool is occupied. This will prevent anyone from being trapped bu the circulation drains. Another protection is to have adult supervision at all times and that is not just an adult present, but rather an adult supervising the pool activites.
I think a law to prevent drowning would be good and a law for being responsible for little people in the water would be good. Something like: The state declares drowning to be illegal and parents or guardians of little people are responsible for watching them while they're in the water. That should end all deaths from swimming.
Seems to me that compliance with a law meant to protect lives is a much smaller price to pay than say causing someone harm, contributing to a situation that would endanger their lives, or lawsuits that may well result from those events.
More government, more laws. We are almost to the point where everything we do or buy is regulated by the government. This exactly what the Constitution is supposed to prevent. We need to aggresively reject legislators not honoring the document that protects the people from the government.
It seems simple enough for me. A small metal or plastic cover bubbled over the drain would allow water to flow into it, but prevent the force from sucking anyone's body or parts thereof into the force. If they slots get clogged with debris, then have a backflow that would clear the cover and then return to draining. Also put an flow detector on the drain that stops the pump if there is a clog, such as person's arm or bottom. How more simple could it be?
not $3000, only $55, get real
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