Every year when the swimming pools open we start receiving calls from home owner associations when the swimming pool gets its first or second vandalism occurrence. Often it is the usual someone threw all the chairs into the pool, trash, dish washing soap added into the water or other obstacles. The worst one I have seen is when the vandals threw in some large flower pots, just full of dirt causing a tremendous amount of damage. When this happens usually the HOA has to call the pool maintenance company out to repair the damages and clean the pool closing the pool until the damages are taken care of.
This year being no different, I thought it a good idea to touch on a couple of topics that I think are important and need to be discussed when installing a CCTV camera system for the pool. Camera type is first. Because vandals do not usually do this type of crime in the daylight, the camera's should be capturing both day and night activity and should be day/night cameras. Since the pool is usually in a sunny area, they also need to adjust to the bright light of the sun as the day passes. Pool areas are usually high humidity areas. Unless you intend on seeing the camera system repairman every year, they should be waterproof camera's so they can take the extra humidity that you know will be at the pool area.
Camera location needs some thought too. Can you see all of the pool area or are there hidden areas that will allow for a blind spot overlooking the pool. Camera height is also important to avoid a spray paint can from a simple shot or opportunity for someone of average height damaging the unit by a baseball bat to avoid detection. Camera lenses should reach the full length of the pool. Pool length's are often 100 feet or longer and a reach of that length requires the right lens.
Although a good reason, vandalism is not the only reason to have a pool camera system. The safety of occupants that go to the pool should be the reason for the system. In most states, a life guard is to be on active duty during pool operation. Often the life guard is acting like a pool attendant rather than a life guard. They are usually a high school student from the local neighborhood who seem to know everyone. My observation is that they are often talking with friends that are attending or are cleaning various items in the area rather than watching the pool users. To insure that the life guard is working and present a camera system can tell the story.
HOA's have a real liability factor here as well and not having a camera system at the pool can open up the HOA to a terrible law suit. Camera systems that record the activity can offset this type of issue by being visual to the public. Knowledge that the incident was recorded can defuse an angry parent who's child may be injured as they play in the pool area. Having the camera system on-line for parents to view from the Internet also is an added benefit when their children are at the pool.
Having a safe, recorded, monitored and remote accessable camera system can give the Home Owners Association a sense of security, may reduce insurance premiums, stop vandalism, reduce liability and if done correctly can offer years of service.
