OGDEN -- Public pools across the Top of Utah have to comply with a new law that requires them to spend money from already tightened budgets but will make pools much safer.
The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act was signed into law in December 2007, but all public pools in Utah had to comply with its regulations by December 2009 or have plans to do so for pools opening in the spring.
It is up to county health departments to make sure the public pools are in compliance with the act.
The act requires a special drain and drain covering to prevent entrapment and suction, said Dave Nordquist, director of North Ogden Community Services.
The act is named after the granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker III.
She drowned in June 2002 when the suction from a backyard spa trapped her under the water.
North Ogden recently approved spending $26,000 from its general fund to pay for the drains that will be installed in April.
Although money is tight, most cities and groups feel the money is well spent.
Some pool directors, though, aren't so sure.
Clearfield Aquatic Center has had the new drains and covers installed since September. Twenty-one drains had to be switched out at a cost near $40,000.
"We weren't exactly planning on it, because we are such a new pool," said Donna Russell, aquatic center director.
"It is such a sad story, but it was a private spa," she said of the situation involving Baker's granddaughter.
Russell said she would do anything to keep swimmers safe and is happy to do so, but would like to see more money spent on teaching kids water safety and to prevent drowning, not just changing drains.
She said she believes the newer pool drains were already safe.
Michelle Cooke, program manager for public pools for Weber-Morgan Health Department, said making sure all 168 public pools in her jurisdiction are in compliance has been a huge job.
Right now, about 20 pools are not in compliance, but those are outdoor pools that will open in the spring.
And they will not be able to open if they do not have the drains or at least the plans to get the drains installed.
One of the bigger challenges public pool directors have faced is that few companies are qualified to design and install the drains and covers.
Because the engineer and installer are very busy, Nordquist wanted to get started on the project right away so the North Ogden facility would be done in enough time for a spring opening.
"This has been a struggle," Cooke said.
Pools must have engineering plans, and those plans must be approved by the county inspector. Once the drains are installed, the pools have to be inspected again.
"We have to make sure the drains match the plans," Cooke said.
Davis County required pools to have the drains last year so they would be compliant by the deadline.
Some pools had to put in two parts, a new drain and a recirculation system with a large, unblockable drain.
Most newer pools have the proper recirculation system that doesn't have any gravitational pull, but some of the older pools did not, said Delene McGarvey, director of environmental health for Davis County Health Department.
All 38 public pools in Davis County are in compliance, McGarvey said.
Roy had the proper drains and covers installed in the city's aquatic center before the summer season and just got the change made at the Roy Complex pool.
The cost was around $32,000, said recreation director Travis Flint.
Nordquist said North Ogden has taken heat from some residents who think the drains and covers are just another excuse for the city to spend money on the pool.
"I have spent two years researching this, and this has to be done," he said.
"This isn't something you can just go pick up at the local hardware store.
"Each pool has to be engineered separately, and (the covers) are mounted and convex. You have to have people who know what they're doing install them."
If pools are not compliant or don't have official engineering plans to become compliant, outdoor pools will not be able to open this spring.
Cooke believes some may end up in that category.
"I haven't heard of any, but I wouldn't be surprised."
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