A new proposal could soon make it law to build four-sided fences around pools, ponds and hot tubs in the Capital.
"I'm not happy with that idea at all, actually. It would cut us off from the house and it would make it very awkward to have access to my pool," said Ottawa resident Kim DeAngelis.
Ottawa's current bylaw requires all hot tubs, pools and ponds that are deeper than two feet to have a three-sided fence around them. Residential homes are thought to act as the fourth side of the fence.
Those rules, however, don't protect children who are inside the house - and officials say those are the kids who are drowning.
In 2007, there were two drownings and nine near-drownings reported in Ottawa.
"Over half of all drownings of children under 14, especially in the younger age group under five, happen in backyard pools. So, having a fence that separates the house from the pool has shown to be very, very effective in reducing drownings in this age group," Corrine Langill of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario told CTV Ottawa.
Pool companies, however, are warning that if the proposed bylaw goes ahead not everyone will have the space to build pools in their backyards.
"If the bylaw proceeds, there will be some homes that will not be able to install a pool, point blank. They won't have the space and they won't have the option of having a pool," said Maggie Jordan of the Artistic Group pool company.
Ottawa's director of building code services says the city wants to consult with the pool industry and homeowners before moving forward with the change. As it stands, any current swimming pools will be exempt from the changes.
The proposal will be before the City's environment and planning committee next week. If approved, it will likely be years before any changes would come into effect.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Joanne Schnurr
