It is going to be a hot Memorial Day weekend and that may prompt many people to buy a backyard swimming pool to beat the heat. The Douglas County Health Department issues a reminder there are regulations in place that must be followed.
How pools are maintained and installed is regulated by an ordinance. Any in-ground pool and above ground pools greater than 24 inches tall has to be permitted before it is installed. Above ground pools that are taller than 24 inches in depth must have a fence or wall around it. In-ground pools are required to have a 5'7" fence while above ground pools need a 48" high fence. Both types of pools need a self-closing latch at least 45 inches above the ground.
A 48" high pool may qualify as a barrier if the access ladder is enclosed by a fence of the same height. The most common violation is that pools are installed without a permit or required fences.
"Every year we receive multiple complaints about backyard pools without fences,” said Environmental Supervisor Russ Hadan. "We investigate every complaint."
The CDC reports most drowning accidents claim an average of 10 lives a day in the U.S. with two of them less than 14 years of age.