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Some Ignore New Pool Drain Law01-26-09 | News

Some Ignore New Pool Drain Law

The 2007 Virginia Graeme Baker Act specifies that, on or before December 19th, 2008, all public swimming pools and spas must meet specific performance requirements. In certain instances (single drain installations), public pools and spas must have additional secondary devices or systems designed to prevent suction entrapment.

Across the country as government agencies waffle on how to enforce a new federal law, child safety advocates say. But despite the dangers ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The statistics for entrapment are probably grossly underestimated (only 33 deaths have been officially listed as being caused by entrapment between 1985 and 2004) because nobody knew the dangers that lurked at the bottom of the pool, according to Safe Kids USA, which was founded by Children?EUR??,,????'?????<

The law applies to all pools with public access, including those at hotels, apartments and residential communities. Complicating matters further is the different way that states are enforcing the law. Because the agency overseeing the law ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Some states and towns are being more lenient than others enforcing the law. many states are allowing pools to remain open, or at least have not begun inspecting the pools and actively shutting them down. Without offering details, some health and safety officials said the law wasn?EUR??,,????'?????<