Nick your 100% correct. Stray voltage is a problem. The utility uses the earth as a return path and this has created a stray voltage problem for pool decks that do not have rebar/wire mesh. Now when you use pavers as you say there is a gradient potential difference with the deck, and other parts of the pool, and equipment associated with the pool.

I had thought there was a proposal to require mesh under pavers so the mesh could be bonded to eliminate the very problem you describe. I haven’t kept up with that, but I'll check the draft and see if there were changes on that.

You know with a deck made of materials that are not or can't be bonded, or just bare ground around the pool I would in fact make them remove the bonding grid from the electrode system. Now as you said you do have a problem with voltage gradients that can't be corrected by bonding, and that is exactly the hazard you have been talking about.

Great point, I had forgotten all about that.

If we are going to take this gradient thing to the extreme lets go back to the interface between the house floor and the pool deck. The house floor is part of the Ufer grounding system and the pool deck is part of the bonding grid. Wouldn't you want them to be bonded? (or do you just hop into the house?)

This is still a distinction without a difference since there is already a solid copper path (call it what you like but the same current flows) between the pool and the GEC via the pump, light and heater circuits. If someone has toaster heat in the spa the EGC may be bigger than the pool bonding.

I would still have to say that the Code's intent is not to do it, and when we consider that not all houses are built with monopour slab construction adjacent to pool deck, it seems to make more sense.

I see your point though.

I think the entire pool bonding articles need to be revised:

1) Pump - require double insulated, no exceptions.
2) Heater - 680.26(D)
3) SPL J Box - design the installation so as not to require the bonding.

See, problem is solved (yeah, right!)