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Pond Safety for Visitors

People who visit your farm do not know your pond. This guide covers how to give them the information and barriers they need, and who to ask about liability.

Why do visitors need special attention?

Visitors do not know where the bank is soft, how deep the water is or what the rules are. Children may wander away from their parents, and adults may take chances they would not take at home. Think about the visitors who may be least prepared: young children, older adults and people who do not speak English well.

If you host a farm stand, a pick-your-own, a school tour, a party or a camping weekend, the pond may draw people toward it without you noticing.

Being clear and ahead of the problem is kinder and safer than reacting afterward.

What should we tell guests?

Tell people about the pond on arrival, in plain words. Say whether it is open or closed, whether anyone may swim or fish, and where children may not go. Show them the fence and gate. Offer a printed map that shows where visitors may go and which areas are closed.

Ask parents to keep close watch on their children and to tell you if anyone is missing. Provide a written sheet if you have large groups.

Use signs in the languages your visitors speak, with pictures where possible.

• Whether the pond is open or closed
• Who may use it and when
• Where children may not go
• Who to tell if someone is missing

What about signs, fences and locks?

Post clear signs near the water and on gates. Fences and locked gates keep out people who have not read the signs, and they protect you as well as your guests. Walk the route a visitor would take from the parking area, and look for places where someone could reach the water without passing a sign.

Rules for signage and fencing differ between states and counties, so ask your local authorities and your insurer what they require or recommend.

Keep signs readable and replace them when they fade. Walk the farm at dusk to see whether signs can be read in low light.

Should we allow swimming or fishing?

Deciding to allow swimming or fishing carries responsibilities. Think about water quality, depth, supervision, emergency access and liability before you invite anyone in. Keep records of your decision and the steps you took, since your insurer may ask.

Ask your insurer, your state or county health office and your extension office what you need to consider, since rules about public swimming and fishing vary.

If you choose not to allow swimming, say so clearly, and enforce it. Remind people that conditions change, and a pond that was open last summer may not be safe this year.

How do events change things?

Events bring crowds, noise and distraction. Keep the pond fenced and closed during events, and assign someone to watch the area. Keep alcohol away from the water edge. If you serve food or drink at events, think about who is responsible for watching the pond.

Make sure your address and directions are posted so that anyone can give them to dispatch, and keep a phone nearby.

If you plan to have food, music or games near the pond, think about how people will move in the dark.

What if an emergency happens?

Call 911 immediately and send someone to the road to meet responders. Do not let untrained people go into the water to attempt a rescue. Follow the dispatcher's instructions. Make sure at least one person on site at each event knows where to meet responders.

Keep first aid supplies where they can be reached, and have someone on site who has taken a recognized first aid and CPR course if you host groups. This site does not provide rescue or first aid steps.

Afterward, record what happened and contact your insurer.

What about liability and insurance?

Ask your insurance agent how your policy treats guests, events and ponds, and whether additional coverage or steps are advised. Ask a local attorney or your state agriculture department about laws that apply to farm visitors, since liability rules vary widely. Review your policy each year and after any change in what visitors do on the farm.

Do not rely on a sign alone to protect you. Safety measures protect people, and that is the purpose.

Keep records of inspections, signs and repairs. Ask your attorney how waivers or signs work in your state before relying on them.

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