Is your pool safe? New residential pool safety regulations in effect

The city of Dorval is notifying its residents who either own a pool, or who intend on installing one, that stricter new measures are now in effect for residential swimming pools across Quebec. The new provincial rules went into effect July 1 and apply to “all residential swimming pools, regardless of their date of installation.”

“In order to reduce the risk of children drowning, the Quebec government has tightened security measures around all residential pools, whether they be new or beneficiary of acquired rights,” the city said in a statement.

The city said Dorval pool owners should check to make sure their installations are up to code.

The stricter rules include:

• Chain link fences that have a mesh size of more than 30 mm must be battened.
• ·No structure or fixed equipment likely to be used to climb over the wall of a swimming pool or enclosure should be installed within one metre of the pool.
• Pools equipped with a diving board must be installed in accordance with the new (BNQ 9461-100) standard, aimed at preventing spinal cord injuries related to diving accidents.
• No window should be situated within one metre of a pool or an enclosure, unless it is at a minimum height of three metres or its maximum opening is 10 cm.

The city also noted that pool owners who had acquired rights will be granted a two-year grace period, until July 1, 2023, to “make the necessary adjustments in order to comply to the new provincial regulations regarding the safety of residential swimming pools.”

Raynald Hawkins of the Quebec Lifesaving Society said he is pleased the new measures do not contain a grandfather clause that would have allowed owners of older pools to maintain the status quo.

“I know some pool owners are not very happy because they don’t have any grandchildren and they don’t think they need that regulation, but I’m more than pleased to see this,” said Hawkins. “From what we know from some coroners’ reports is that children were alone when we had drowning situations in backyards. It was the relatives or the guests (of pool owners) who were drowning.”

Hawkins said the stricter new measures will hopefully prevent toddlers from accidentally falling into the pool without being noticed.

“The majority of those drownings occurred in pools where there was direct access from the house to the in-ground pool or above-ground pool.”

Hawkins said 75 per cent of all drownings occur between May and September.

There have been 34 unofficial drownings in Quebec so far this year, compared to 44 at this time last year.

There were a total of 95 reported drownings in Quebec in 2020. About a third (31) of the drownings occurred during boating activities, and mostly (27) involved people who were not wearing lifejackets, Hawkins said.

He also noted that July is usually the worst month for drownings in the country, which is why National Drowning Prevention Week is set for July 18-24.

“This is the time of year we have the most drownings in Quebec and Canada, usually because we have beautiful weather and many Québécois are near or go in the water.”

Dorval spokesperson Sébastien Gauthier noted there are approximately 450 residential pools in the West Island suburb.

The city has issued about 20 pool permits so far in 2021, which is double the average of about 10 per year.

For information on the permit request for the installation of a swimming pool in Dorval or for advice on the compliance of your existing installation, contact the Urban Planning Department at 514-633-4125.

For more info on residential swimming pool safety regulations, visit www.quebec.ca/piscinesresidentielles (in French).