A proposed new city bylaw would see several new safety measures implemented for backyard pools and hot tubs.
A new Outdoor Swimming Pool and Hot Tub Bylaw would require fencing around new above-ground pools.
The new bylaw would apply to new pools and hot tubs and fence replacements.
"The proposed bylaw is intended to protect lives by reducing the risk of drowning or injury in outdoor swimming pools and hot tubs." says the staff report.
New safety requirements include:
- Protecting openings where a house wall forms part of a pool enclosure
- Providing life saving devices, specifically a rescue pole or life ring.
- Displaying safety rules signage.
- Ensuring the safe storage of chemicals.
- Reducing the risk of children from being trapped in pool drain and suction fittings.
- Ensuring electrical installations are safe.
- Requiring the installation of backflow prevention devices on outside water taps to protect house water from contamination when topping up pools and hot tubs.
The city report says the new rules will cost new backyard pool owners $185 and new hot tub owners $35, plus the cost of a fence if they weren't planning on installing one.
The current bylaw is 25 years old and there are gaps, says the staff report.
It says the new bylaw takes into consideration new products and safety devices that didn't exist when the old bylaw came into being in 1994.
"The primary goal is to provide a reduction in risk to the loss of life or injury particularly for children under five years of age," it reads.
In Canada, there were an average of 32 private pool and eight hot tub deaths per year between 2010 and 2014 and drowning is the leading cause of accidental death among children age one to four.
