CARTERSVILLE, Ga. – Given the recent uptick in foreclosures, it’s no surprise that a number of houses are still unoccupied. But, officials here are raising concerns about another potential hazard at abandoned houses: swimming pools that aren’t being maintained.
The city’s Code Enforcement Department this week asked residents to report “abandoned pools that need attention.”
“It has been brought to our attention that the current foreclosure and vacant housing problems have left some yards unsafe if no one is maintaining the property, particularly yards with pools,” the city said in a statement. “Pools must be secured with a required barrier such as a fence. Pools, when left un-maintained, can create safety and health concerns.”
March 2010 statistics indicate that 1 in every 192 of the 37,485 houses in Bartow County are under foreclosure, NPR has reported citing information from RealtyTrac Inc., U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Nielsen Claritas.