Campinas Enacts New Pool Safety Law After Child's Death

The Mayor of Campinas, São Paulo, has officially sanctioned Lei Manuela (Law No. 16.866/2026), a landmark piece of legislation designed to enhance safety protocols in swimming pools throughout the municipality. The law is named after Manuela Cotrin Carósio, a 9-year-old girl who tragically passed away in November 2024 following an accident involving a pool suction device at a local resort.

Effective immediately upon publication in the Official Diary, the new regulations target a wide range of facilities, including sports plazas, clubs, gyms, condominiums, hotels, and inns. The primary objective is to prevent accidents related to suction systems by prohibiting their operation during pool hours and enforcing the installation of specific protective equipment. The legislation represents the culmination of a year-long campaign by the victim's family to address security gaps they identified at the resort where the tragedy occurred.

Lei Manuela was born out of a personal tragedy that shook the local community. On November 23, 2024, Manuela Cotrin Carósio, age 9, was staying at a luxury resort in Campinas with her parents and older sister when the accident occurred.

The young girl's hair became entangled in a suction device, specifically a drain cover on a pool waterfall. According to the victim's mother, Carina Carósio, the device was irregular and constituted an unauthorized adaptation. She described the equipment as a "device type a drain of the waterfall" that was not in accordance with safety norms, noting that her daughter's hair entered through two side orifices and became stuck in screws.

Despite being rescued alive, Manuela passed away after 11 days of hospitalization, tragically on the day she would have turned 10 years old. Following the incident, the resort management stated that the specific water return device involved was deactivated for evaluation. Later, a report from the Civil Police's Institute of Criminalistics confirmed that the suction device responsible for the accident was indeed irregular and in total non-compliance with technical norms.

The legislation establishes strict operational rules for all collective swimming pools in Campinas. The most significant change is the prohibition of suction motor operation while pools are open to bathers. This rule applies to all relevant establishments, including horizontal and vertical condominiums, associations, hotels, and similar venues.

Exceptions are made only for maintenance periods. If maintenance requires the motor to be active, the pool must be closed to the public, and a warning sign must be displayed indicating that the equipment is in operation.

In addition to operational restrictions, the law mandates the installation of specific safety devices. Facilities must implement:

• Protection on suction inlets to prevent people, animals, or objects from getting stuck.
• A pressure relief system activated in case of blockage.
• An emergency button for immediate shutdown of the pump.
• An automatic system that stops the motor upon detecting obstructions.

The Prefeitura de Campinas (City Hall) is authorized to perform inspections to ensure compliance. While the initial focus will be on guidance, authorities are empowered to apply penalties.

While the law entered into force immediately upon publication, establishment owners are granted a 120-day grace period to adapt their facilities to the new safety requirements regarding equipment installation.

After this period, strict enforcement will begin. The legislation authorizes the city to prioritize guidance for responsible parties, but it does not exclude the application of punitive measures. Non-compliance carries severe consequences:

• Fines: Starting at 1,500 Unidades Fiscais de Campinas (UFICs), which equates to approximately R$ 7,649.40 based on 2026 values.
• Interdiction: The facility may be shut down immediately.
• Reopening Conditions: A pool will only be allowed to reopen after the required safety devices are properly installed.

The creation of Lei Manuela is the result of the mobilization of the victim's family, who spoke publicly about the case one year after the tragedy. Their advocacy highlighted the specific security flaws that led to the accident, prompting the Câmara dos Vereadores de Campinas (City Council) to approve the bill in its final session of the year.

Following the release of the police forensic report, the investigation officer, Delegate Luiz Fernando Marucci, emphasized the severity of the irregularities found at the resort. He stated that the device was in "total non-compliance with technical norms" and that the investigation would now focus on identifying the professionals responsible for the project and execution of the equipment.

In a statement regarding the incident, the Royal Palm Plaza resort expressed deep regret over the accident. The establishment's management stated: "We deeply regret the accident that occurred in 2024 and we sympathize with the pain of the family and friends. Since then, we have promptly collaborated with the authorities in the investigation of all the circumstances of the case."

The resort also confirmed that, as an additional safety measure, they had "definitively deactivated the waterfall of the pool where the episode with our guest occurred." They reiterated their commitment to the safety and well-being of all guests, ensuring they follow strict protocols for security, maintenance, and constant training of their teams.