Summer heat seems to encourage an increase in the use of swimming pool and the need to know about the regulations for both city and private-owned pools.

The LCG Zoning and planning Department says they have received calls about code violations of some privately owned pools.  

Some of requirements for pool owners in Lafayette City and Parish: There must be at least a five foot fence, self locking gate with the lock on the inside, and the fence can not be more than two inches off the ground.

Lafayette Parks and Recreation as participation requirements for public pool users.

Sherri Hager is the pool manager at the Robicheaux Center’s Earl J. Chris Swimming Pool. Hager is requesting children under 12 be accompanied by an adult. “If they are with their brother and sisters and they’re 12 and older, then that’s okay.  We just don’t want children much younger than that,” Hager adds.

Some of the rules are as follows for Lafayette Parks and Recreation swimming pool users: no diving, no running, no horseplay or profanity. “It gets slick.  I’ve seen too many accidents where children are running.  You can’t run.  You have to walk.”

“All it takes is for a group of friends to jump into the pool, and in a split second they’re trying to dive into the deep end.  Sudden they hurt their head.  You think they’re face first trying to hold their breathe, the next thing you know they’re not conscious,” says Lifeguard Benjamin Nelson. 

Hager explains Lafayette Parks and Recreation has a summer swimming camp for those who need to learn how to swim.