Safety
Drain and suction safety
Suction at a pool or spa drain is strong enough to trap a child, or even an adult.
This is an independent referral guide. It connects homeowners with independent providers and may receive compensation. It is not a licensed contractor and it does not do the work.
Where the law came from
Pool Safely explains that the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act is named for a seven year old who drowned after a hot tub drain held her underwater. The law was signed in December 2007 and requires anti-entrapment drain covers in public pools and spas.
Habits for your family
- Do not swim or play near drains or suction outlets, especially in spas and shallow pools.
- Never use a pool or spa with a loose, broken, or missing drain cover.
- Find the emergency shutoff before you get into a spa.
After the build
Ask your builder to show you the drain covers and the shutoff, and tell you when covers should be replaced.
Sources
Public pages, linked so you can read the source yourself. Rules change, so confirm the current version with the agency before you rely on it.
Describe the project
Tell us the neighborhood, the yard, and whether the house wall will be part of the pool barrier.