California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65546. Fecal, Vomit, Blood Contamination, and Near-Drowning or Drowning Incident Response.

(a) In responding to a fecal, vomit, blood contamination, near-drowning or drowning incident, the pool operator shall perform the following disinfection procedures:

(1) After a fecal, vomit, blood contamination, near-drowning, or drowning incident, the pool operator shall immediately close the affected public pool to pool users. If the public pool is one of multiple public pools that use the same filtration system, then all interconnected public pools shall be closed to pool users. No one shall be allowed to enter the public pool(s) until the disinfection procedures have been completed.

(2) The pool operator shall remove contaminating material and discharge the contaminating material directly to the sanitary sewer or other approved wastewater-disposal process in accordance with State or local requirements. The pool operator shall clean and disinfect the item used to remove the contaminating material.

(3) The pool operator shall ensure that the pH of the public pool water is at 7.5 or lower.

(4) The pool operator shall measure and maintain the public pool water temperature at 77°F (25°C) or higher.

(5) The pool operator shall ensure that the filtration system is operating while the public pool reaches and maintains the required free-chlorine concentration during the disinfection process.

(6) The pool operator shall disinfect the public pool water as follows:

(A) If the contaminating material is a formed fecal stool or vomit, the pool operator shall maintain the free-chlorine concentration in the pool at 2 ppm for at least 25 minutes.

(B) If the fecal material is a diarrheal stool, the pool operator shall raise the free-chlorine concentration in the pool to 20 ppm and maintain that concentration for at least 12.75 hours. If that public pool water contains a chlorine stabilizer such as cyanuric acid, the pool operator shall lower the pH to 6.5 and raise the free-chlorine concentration in the public pool to 40 ppm and maintain that concentration for at least 30 hours.

(C) If the contaminating material is blood, the pool operator shall check the free-chlorine concentration in the public pool at the time of the incident. If it is below the required minimum free-chlorine concentration, the pool operator shall immediately close the public pool until the required minimum free-chlorine concentration is achieved.

(7) The pool operator shall test the free-chlorine residual at multiple points to ensure the required free-chlorine concentration is achieved throughout the public pool water for the entire disinfection time.

(8) The pool operator shall replace any affected cartridge filters and shall backwash noncartridge filters after the disinfection process has been completed. The pool operator shall ensure the effluent is discharged directly to the sanitary sewer or other approved wastewater-disposal process in accordance with State or local requirements. The pool operator shall not return the filter backwash water to the pool. The pool operator shall replace the filter media if necessary.

(9) The pool operator shall not allow pool users back into the public pool until the disinfection process has been completed and the free-chlorine concentration and pH of the public pool water have returned to normal operating ranges in accordance with sections 65529 and 65530.

(b) The pool operator shall immediately document each fecal, vomit, blood contamination, drowning, or near-drowning incident and maintain records in accordance with section 65523 as follows:

(1) The date and time of the incident, the affected pool, the available free-chlorine concentrations, pool temperature, and pH at the time of the incident, and facts known about the circumstances and cause of the incident. This information shall also be documented after the pool operator has completed the disinfection process and again when reopening the pool to pool users.

(2) Whether the fecal stool was formed or diarrheal.

(3) The procedures followed in responding to the contamination incident.

(4) The number of pool users in the public pool and the length of time between the occurrence, detection, and resolution of the incident.