Swimming Pools

For many, living in Florida means owning a swimming pool; for others pools are referred to as "a big hole in the ground to pour money into." Swimming pool technology has come a long way in the last several years. Today's pools are no longer the "cement ponds" of the past. There are a variety automatic cleaners, chlorinators, and filters that make owning a pool easier and more enjoyable. In addition many pool cleaning service companies offer an affordable "chemical only" service in which they come out biweekly to maintain the necessary chemical balance for your pool.

Savings Suggestions

Pool builders typically do not charge based on total gallons but on longest point to longest point dimensions. A 12'x24' rectangular shaped pool might be about 13,500 gallons where a 12'x24' kidney shaped pool might be 11,500 gallons. The price for either of the pools is generally the same. If you want to get the most amount of pool for your dollar consider a standard rectangular shaped pool. Others enjoy kidney shaped pools (also referred to as "free-form" shaped pools) but you will get a slightly smaller pool for the same money. Also, if you are a family who enjoys playing games/sports in your pool, consider a pool shape that will be better suited for this usage.

Photo courtesy of: Landmark Pools, Inc. of Palm Harbor, FL

Construction Pictures

Pictures of a swimming pool under construction in south Florida.

(Photos courtesy of: Best Pools of Melbourne, FL)

RESIDENTIAL SWIMMING POOL SAFETY ACT

The Florida Legislature finds that drowning is the leading cause of death of young children in this state and is also a significant cause of death for medically frail elderly persons in this state, that constant adult supervision is the key to accomplishing the objective of reducing the number of submersion incidents, and that when lapses in supervision occur a pool safety feature designed to deny, delay, or detect unsupervised entry to the swimming pool, spa, or hot tub will reduce drowning and near-drowning incidents. In addition to the incalculable human cost of these submersion incidents, the health care costs, loss of lifetime productivity, and legal and administrative expenses associated with drownings of young children and medically frail elderly persons in this state each year and the lifetime costs for the care and treatment of young children who have suffered brain disability due to near-drowning incidents each year are enormous. Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature that all new residential swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs be equipped with at least one pool safety feature as specified in this chapter. It is also the intent of the Legislature that the Department of Health be responsible for producing its own or adopting a nationally recognized publication that provides the public with information on drowning prevention and the responsibilities of pool ownership and also for developing its own or adopting a nationally recognized drowning prevention education program for the public and for persons violating the pool safety requirements of this chapter.

(Click here to view Florida's RESIDENTIAL SWIMMING POOL SAFETY ACT)

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Last Updated: March 14, 2005 10:39 PM