Drowning remains a serious danger for young children in Riverside County, where the drowning rate is nearly seven times the statewide rate, according to information discussed on a recent Roggin Report.
The issue gained renewed attention after a drowning in Palm Desert on July 30. Legal expert Walter Clark explained that several factors contribute to the elevated risk across Riverside County, particularly in the Coachella Valley.
The region experiences more than 140 days of temperatures reaching at least 90 degrees, while Riverside County also has a high number of swimming pools per capita. The area is also home to canals that can pose additional dangers, and many children have not learned how to swim.
Children ages 1 to 5 face the greatest risk, Clark said. He also warned that nonfatal drowning incidents can result in hypoxic brain injuries and lifelong disabilities.
California's pool safety requirements include provisions under the 2018 Safe Pool Act. Clark said pool owners must comply with applicable safety measures, including options such as a five-foot barrier completely surrounding a pool, with gates that close automatically and swing outward.
Other safety options can include alarms on doors and windows providing pool access, automatic door closers, water-detection systems, motion alarms or a solid pool cover.
Clark emphasized that the requirements can also apply to homeowners associations.
"Homeowners associations, even though they seem private, behind the gates and so forth, they still have an obligation because the law considers them public pools," Clark said.
For pools covered by those requirements, safety measures can include visible depth markings and "no diving" signs.
Pool owners can also potentially face civil and criminal consequences following a drowning, particularly when required safety measures were not followed.
"If you violated a rule and somebody is injured or dies in your pool, you can be held responsible in a civil action," Clark said. He added that child protective services investigations and, in some circumstances, criminal charges can also follow a child's death.
Clark said prevention remains critical, particularly through swimming lessons. Local programs, including the Desert Recreation District and Palm Desert Aquatic Center, offer swimming instruction, with scholarships and other assistance sometimes available to help families access lessons.
As temperatures remain high across the Coachella Valley, officials and safety advocates continue urging families to take precautions around pools, canals and other bodies of water.
Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.
By: NBC Palm Springs
August 11, 2026
