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Pond Safety
Safety Design and Supervision Guidelines
Children and water together always present a risk. It remains essential to supervise small children around any water. This pond design, though, minimizes risk while allowing safe access. The raised height lets children look into the water without having to balance on the edge. The pond is only 18 inches deep, with a step at 9 inches. If a toddler falls in, they can usually stand with their head above the water, and the step helps them climb out more easily. (In many localities, backyard ponds deeper than 18 inches must be fenced with a childproof gate. At 18 inches or less, ponds are generally considered shallow enough to be relatively safe.)