Home California Code of Regulations: Title 22 - Social Security

Cal. Code Reg. §65545. Public Pool Closure

California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65545. Public Pool Closure

A public pool that is maintained or operated in a manner that creates an unhealthful, unsafe, or unsanitary condition may be closed by the enforcing agent. Unhealthful, unsafe, or unsanitary conditions include, but are not limited to, failure to maintain clean pool water and clear pool water requirements; inadequate disinfection; improper pH; the presence of inhalation hazards; failure to meet microbiological or chemical water-quality standards; missing or broken suction outlet covers; missing or broken pool enclosures, including fencing and gates; hazards to pool users; and any other violation of these regulations identified by the enforcing agent. A public pool shall not be reopened until the unhealthful, unsafe, or unsanitary condition has been rectified and upon specific written approval from the enforcing agent.

Cal. Code Reg. §65551. Cleaning of Ancillary Facilities.

California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65551. Cleaning of Ancillary Facilities.

(a) The pool operator shall keep clean and free of slime, algae, litter, and vermin all ancillary facilities, including, but not limited to, showers, toilets, dressing facilities, drinking fountains, diaper-changing stations, floors, walls, partitions, doors, and lockers.
(b) Except for deck showers, all showers provided for pool users as required by Chapter 31B, Title 24, California Code of Regulations shall have soap in dispensers or containers.
(c) For toilet facilities, toilet tissue, handwashing soap, and paper towels or hot air blowers shall be provided in permanently installed dispensing devices.
(d) The pool operator shall provide and maintain, in a clean and sanitary condition, a minimum of one waste receptacle in each toilet facility.
(e) Wooden slats, duckboards, and footbaths are prohibited.

Cal. Code Reg. §65546. Fecal, Vomit, Blood Contamination, and Near-Drowning or Drowning Incident Response.

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.

Cal. Code Reg. §65541. Health of Employees and Public Pool Users.

California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65541. Health of Employees and Public Pool Users

(a) No public pool employee having a communicable disease while in an infectious state shall work in any capacity involving contact with pool users, pool water, or the operation of the pool equipment and ancillary facilities at a public pool unless a current written statement is provided by a licensed physician as prescribed in subdivision (b).

(b) No public pool employee or pool user having a communicable disease while in an infectious state, including, but not limited to, Cryptosporidium, giardia, Legionnaires’ disease, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, or while having any symptoms such as a cough, cold sore, or nasal or ear discharge or when wearing bandages, shall not enter public pool water unless the public pool employee or pool user submits a current written statement to the pool operator, signed by a licensed physician, confirming that the public pool employee or pool user does not present a health hazard to others using the public pool or ancillary facilities.

(c) If two or more lifeguards or pool users at a public pool report within 5 days of each other to the pool operator that they have had diarrhea, the pool operator shall report this to the enforcing agent.

Cal. Code Reg. §65540. Safety and First Aid Equipment.

California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65540. Safety and First Aid Equipment

(a) Except for spray grounds without standing water, the pool operator shall ensure that the following safety and first aid equipment is provided and maintained readily visible and available for use at the public pool at all times:

(1) A 17-inch-minimum (exterior diameter) life ring with an attached throw rope with a minimum 3/16-inch diameter. The throw rope shall be of sufficient length to span the maximum width of the public pool and shall be stored in such a way as to prevent kinking or fouling. When rescue without a life ring can be effected from the perimeter of a spa, the enforcing agent may exempt the spa from the requirements of this subdivision.

(2) A 12-foot-minimum fixed-length rescue pole with a permanently attached body hook. For spas, the enforcing agency may approve a shorter length based on the unique configuration of each spa. For spas, the length of the rescue pole shall be of sufficient length to effectuate rescue.

(b) For public pools with lifeguard personnel on duty, the pool operator of each public pool area shall have the following additional safety equipment:

(1) A Red Cross 10-Person Industrial First Aid Kit or the equivalent.

(2) An operating telephone.

(3) A backboard and head immobilizer.

(c) For public pools that exceed 75 feet in length or 50 feet in width, the pool operator shall provide a rescue pole and a life ring on at least two opposing sides of the public pool at centralized locations.

(d) When, in the opinion of the enforcing agent, any public pool is of such size that unaided swimming by lifeguards performing rescue may not offer sufficient protection to pool users, the pool operator shall provide one or more paddle boards or square-sterned boats equipped with oars, oarlocks and life rings as ordered by the enforcing agent.

Cal. Code Reg. §65539. Lifesaving and Control of Public Pool Users.

California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65539. Lifesaving and Control of Public Pool Users

(a) If the pool operator provides lifeguard services, they shall be provided in accordance with Health and Safety Code sections 116028, 116033, and 116045. The pool operator shall ensure that written proof of compliance with the certification requirements of Health and Safety Code sections 116028 and 116033 for each lifeguard is available for inspection by the enforcing agent at the public pool.

(b) Where lifeguard service is provided, the pool operator shall ensure lifeguards maintain continuous surveillance of the pool users.

(c) Lifeguards on duty shall only provide lifeguard services as defined in Health and Safety Code section 116028.

(d) Lifeguards shall wear swimming apparel that clearly identifies them as lifeguards to pool users.

Cal. Code Reg. §65537. Swimsuits, Towels, Caps, and Protective Head Gear.

California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65537. Swimsuits,
Towels, Caps, and Protective Head Gear

The pool operator shall have all swimsuits and towels furnished by the pool operator laundered after each use, and the pool operator shall have all reusable swimming caps and protective head gear furnished by the pool operator cleaned after each use.

Cal. Code Reg. §65535. Public Pool Site Maintenance.

California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65535. Public Pool Site Maintenance

The pool operator shall keep all parts of the public pool site well-maintained, including, but not limited to, the public pools, water treatment systems, ancillary facilities, signs, showers, toilets, dressing facilities, drinking fountains, diaper-changing stations, floors, walls, partitions, doors, and lockers.