New law to improve pool safety

Some public pools and spas may be forced to close Friday. That's when new pool safety standards go into effect.

Those pools not in compliance may have to shut down unless new anti-drowning drain covers are installed.

The law is designed to prevent drain suction from trapping children and adults under water. In fact, at least one person dies each year from this deadly suction.

While a dip in a pool may be the last thing on your mind right now, but a new law to protect swimmers is front and center. Friday is the deadline for all public pools and spas to install new drain systems.

A check of all 13 YMCA’s in Rhode Island shows all of its public pools are in compliance, in fact they have been for sometime.

YMCA spokeswoman Karen Leslie says when the pools were developed they were developed with safety features in mind that include dual drain systems and gravity systems that stopped the potential of suction entrapment.

However, not all public pools comply. In fact, according to the national swimming pool foundation, 80 % of the 300,000 public pools and spas in the United States do not comply with the new rules and may have to close.

The rules apply to public pools and spas including those at hotels, private clubs, apartment buildings and community centers.

The cost of complying with the new law ranges from $1,000 to $15,000 per pool. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says Congress did not give the agency the money needed to enforce the law.

As a result the federal government expects states to take on much of the enforcement responsibility, but given the current financial crisis, that's could be a financial burden for local governments.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission did say it would focus on public baby pools and wading pools, as well as in-ground spas.