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Pond and Water Structure Safety

Ponds, lagoons, irrigation canals, tanks and dams are part of many farms, and each carries risks for children, workers and visitors. Planning around water reduces the chance of tragedy.

What are the main hazards around farm water?

Drowning is the most serious risk, and it can happen quickly and quietly, including in shallow water. Steep banks, slick edges, soft mud, thin ice, cold water and floating or submerged debris make a bad situation worse.

Structures bring other hazards. Dams and embankments can erode, leak or fail, tanks and cisterns can be covered by weak lids and manure or wastewater lagoons can contain gases and unstable edges. Pond banks can look solid but hide undercut edges, and livestock and wildlife can erode them, so the edge you stood on last year may not be safe now.

How do I protect children and visitors?

Children are especially at risk. Supervise them near any water, and keep barriers such as fencing and locked gates around ponds, lagoons and tanks where possible. Make rules for family and guests, and explain them clearly.

The Progressive Agriculture Foundation and Red Cross offer educational material on water safety and swimming skills. Ask local organizations about courses for children and adults. Tell visitors about hazards when they arrive, especially if they are new to farms. Guests, renters and tradespeople may not realize that an attractive pond can be dangerous.

• Fence and lock access where practical
• Post clear warning signs
• Never leave young children unsupervised near water
• Keep rescue equipment visible and in good shape
• Teach older children and workers what to do and what not to do

What about ice and winter conditions?

Ice thickness cannot be judged by appearance, and it can vary across a pond. Do not walk, skate or drive equipment on farm ponds unless you have confirmed guidance from a reliable official source.

If someone falls through, call 911 and do not go out onto the ice to attempt a rescue. Responders have training and equipment for ice rescue; untrained rescue attempts often create more victims.

How do I keep dams and embankments safe?

Walk the structure regularly and look for seepage, cracks, sinkholes, slumping, burrowing animals and tree growth on the slope. Keep spillways clear so overflow can pass safely.

Rules for dams vary by state, size and hazard classification, and some require permits or inspections. Contact your state dam safety office, NRCS or USDA service center and your Extension office. Do not take heavy equipment onto an embankment you doubt. After storms, check spillways and embankments quickly, and keep records. Ask your state dam safety office whether your structure falls under any rules.

What about tanks, lagoons and manure storage?

Lids, covers and edges can fail, and these spaces can hold toxic gases. Never enter a tank, pit or lagoon area without training and proper procedures, and never go in after a person or animal. Danger: gases can overcome rescuers quickly.

If someone falls in or collapses near one, call 911. Do not attempt a rescue yourself. Ask NIOSH, OSHA and trained confined-space instructors for guidance on prevention. Covers should be secure and clearly marked, and openings to tanks should be locked or guarded so that children and animals cannot reach them.

What should I plan for emergencies?

Post the farm's address and clear directions so responders can find a pond or lagoon quickly. Keep a phone available and make sure workers know to call 911 first.

Practice what you will do. Reach-and-throw tools may be part of your plan, but rescue skills must come from recognized training and not from guesswork. The Red Cross can tell you about courses. Keep your emergency plan in writing and review it with family and workers at the start of each warm season, when water use and visits increase.

How do I keep records and review?

Write down inspection dates, repairs and any changes to the water structure. Review before each season and after storms and floods.

If anything about a dam or embankment worries you, get a qualified engineer to look at it. Repairing a small problem is far easier than recovering from a failure. If you build or modify a pond, get engineering help and confirm permits first, as design and location affect safety for years. Take a walk around every water feature with fresh eyes each season, and ask a child's height view of what looks tempting or unsafe.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.