Pond Safety

All bodies of water require safety measures to be put in place. Whether it is the ocean, a sea, a river, a lake, a pond or simply an ornamental water feature, precautions need to be taken to ensure that its users or viewers are safe.

Whether you are starting from scratch and are designing the pond of your dreams or, you have acquired a water feature upon moving into a new property: please, please, please consider its safety, particularly if the space is shared with others. You can design the most beautiful water feature known to man, but if it is not safe for the people around it then there is no point. Whether you have young children, pets or a particularly boozy relative who has a tendency to stumble: safety should be a key part of your pond planning.

When preventing and protecting people from getting soggy, there are a few options to consider:

• A small fence can be built around the perimeter of the pond, it should be approximately 1.2 metres in height and should have a secure gate that cannot be easily opened.
• Pond grating or netting can be an alternative, a child-safe metal grid or mesh can be placed just below the water surface to prevent full submersion of someone trips. 
• Continuing on with the idea of under the surface methods: many pond owners opt to create a shallow safety shelf around the perimeter. This doesn’t stop people from falling in, but it does heavily reduce the risk of full submersion.
• If your pond is expected to be in a shared or public space, consider introducing warning signs to warn passers-by of deep water.

 

 

If the only other residents around your pond are your furry friends, there are some other considerations: 

• Your pet is likely to investigate when you aren’t looking, they may be thirsty or simply want a swim; by creating gradual edges that gently slope into the pond will make this safer for them. It also means that, if they do fall in by accident, it should be easier for them to climb out.
• Research non-toxic aquatic plants and pond treatments. Nobody wants to use anything that may be harmful to their furry friend. An example of this is lilies, you should not use lilies if you have cats as they are toxic.
• As with people, covering your pond with netting could be the way to deter curious paws and snouts.

 

 

In all cases, if in doubt: build a raised pond that nobody can climb or fall into!

A beautiful pond should also be a safe and enjoyable space for everyone — plan accordingly, and you can have peace of mind and a stunning water feature.