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DTPR MAGAZINE #15-4: July - August 2025
Owner Responsibilities: Pool owners
must provide a safety notice approved
by the Arizona Department of Health
Services to all buyers and renters in
Arizona, emphasizing education and
compliance. Non-compliance can lead
to fines up to $1,000 per violation.
Local Phoenix ordinances, and those
in nearby Scottsdale, Peoria, or Tempe,
may add stricter rules, such as requiring
door alarms or banning certain fence
materials like mesh in some areas.
Maricopa County’s Environmental Services
Department conducts rigorous inspections
for public pools, and homeowners should
adopt similar diligence. Check your city’s
regulations to ensure your pool meets all
requirements.
SAFETY MEASURES FOR
EVERY AGE GROUP
Preventing pool injuries demands an in
depth layered approach: physical barriers,
active supervision, education, & barrier
maintenance. Here’s how to safeguard
everyone who enjoys your pool:
FOR YOUNG CHILDREN (AGES 0–5)
Robust Barriers and Alarms: Install a
5-foot-high wrought iron or mesh fence
with self-closing gates, as required by
Arizona law. Add pool alarms that detect
water disturbances and door/window
alarms to alert you through a phone app
if a child accesses the pool area. These
devices are critical, as the CPSC notes
that 63% of nonfatal drownings involve
kids ages 1–3.
Unwavering Supervision: Designate
a “Water Watcher” adult who will avoid
distractions like phone conversations, or
alcohol. Drowning can occur in as little
as 20 seconds, and supervision lapses
are a leading cause of tragedy.
Swim Lessons: Enroll your children in
programs such as the City of Phoenix’s
Starfish Swim School, which offers swim
lessons starting at 6 months. Early swim
education, teaching skills like submersion
and floating, will significantly reduce the
risk of drowning.
Photography by: Olga Saliy
Photography by: Frank Boston