Epsten, APC

California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65533. Public Pool Cleanliness

(a) The pool operator shall maintain clean pool water while the public pool is in use. The pool operator shall not allow debris, including, but not limited to, floating scum, sputum, trash, or leaves, to accumulate in the public pool. The pool operator shall ensure that water levels are maintained and operated to remove such material continuously through the pool skimming system in accordance with section 3136B, Title 24, California Code of Regulations.

(b) The pool operator shall clean the bottom, sides, and other surfaces of the public pool as often as necessary to keep the bottom, sides, and public pool surfaces clean and free of slime and algae.

California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65531. Public Pool Water and Indoor Air Quality Standards

(a) The pool operator shall maintain microbiological water quality standards in each public pool at the site as follows:

(1) Standard Plate Count (Heterotrophic Plate): The number of colony forming units (CFU) shall not exceed 200 colonies per milliliter.

(2) Total Coliform:

(A) If the multiple-tube fermentation method is used, the most probable number (MPN) shall be less than 2.2 per 100 milliliters.

(B) If the membrane filtration technique is used, the number of coliform organisms shall be less than one colony per 100 milliliters.

(C) If an enzyme substrate method including Idexx Colilert-18 is used, an MPN shall be less than or equal to one per 100 milliliters.

(b) Chemical quality of public pool water and indoor air quality at the public pool site and ancillary facilities shall not cause adverse physiological effects, such as irritation of the eyes, lungs, or skin of the pool users.

California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65530. Public Pool Water Characteristics

The pool operator shall maintain public pool water characteristics within the following ranges:

Minimum       Maximum

pH       7.2       7.8

Cyanuric Acid Concentration        0.0 ppm          100.0 ppm

Pool Water Temperature     Not applicable          104° F

ppm = parts per million.

California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65529. Public Pool Disinfection

(a) Public pools, when open or in use, shall be disinfected continuously by a chemical that imparts a disinfectant at concentrations consistent with subdivision (b) of this section. If halogens other than chlorine are used, residuals of equivalent strength shall be maintained.

(b) The minimum and maximum concentrations of disinfectant residuals in public pool water shall be:

Free – Chlorine Residual   Bromine Residual

Without CYA With CYA

Min     Max     Min     Mix      Min     Max

Public Pools*            1.0 ppm          10.0 ppm        2.0 ppm          10.0 ppm        2.0 ppm          —

Public Spas,

Wading Pools, and Spray Grounds          3.0 ppm          10.0 ppm        3.0 ppm          10.0 ppm        4.0 ppm            —

CYA = cyanuric acid; Min = minimum; Max = maximum; ppm = parts per million.

*This includes all public pools except spas, wading pools, and spray grounds.

(c) In addition to the requirements in subdivisions (a) and (b), a spray ground and water features with an ultraviolet light disinfection system shall be disinfected continuously at a minimum of 40 mJ/cm<2> by the ultraviolet light disinfection units while the spray ground and water features are in use. If the ultraviolet dosage rate drops below 40 mJ/cm<2> the operator shall close the spray ground and water features.

(d) The enforcing agent may accept other disinfecting materials or methods after the pool operator has demonstrated to the enforcing agent that the materials or methods provide a readily measurable disinfectant residual in the public pool. The pool operator shall demonstrate to the enforcing agent that such materials or methods are at least as effective as the required chlorine concentration and do not have adverse physiological effects on pool users.

(e) The pool operator shall maintain a test kit for measuring the disinfectant residual, pH, and, if used, cyanuric acid concentration at the public pool. This test kit shall be available for use by the pool operator and the enforcing agent at all times the public pool is in use. The chlorine or bromine test kit shall be the diethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPD) type or otherwise be capable of testing free-halogen residual. Chlorine test kits shall be capable of testing for free chlorine and total chlorine.

California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65527. Water Clarity

The pool operator shall maintain clear pool water while the public pool is in use. The pool operator shall close the public pool if the bottom of the pool at the maximum depth is not clearly visible from the deck. The pool operator shall not reopen the public pool for use until the pool water is clean and clear, and the bottom of the pool at the maximum depth is clearly visible from the deck. If the bottom of the pool is not visible 48 hours following inspection and closure by the enforcing agent, the enforcing agent may order the pool drained.

California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65525. Recirculation and Water Treatment System Operation.

(a) The pool operator shall operate pumps, filters, disinfectant and chemical feeders, flow indicators, gauges, recirculation systems, disinfection systems, and all parts of the water treatment system whenever the public pool is available for use and at such additional times as necessary to maintain clean pool water, clear pool water, and the disinfection standards required in section 65529.
(b) The variation in flow rate of an operating recirculation system shall be such as not to reduce the flow below 75 percent of the rate required in section 3124B, Title 24, California Code of Regulations.

California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65523. Operation Records

(a) Except as provided in Health and Safety Code, section 116048, the pool operator of every public pool open for use at a public pool site shall test the disinfectant residual and pH of the public pool water a minimum of once per day. The pool operator shall also test heated pools’ water temperature a minimum of once per day. The pool operator may perform these daily tests using a properly calibrated automatic chemical monitoring and control system if approved by the enforcing agent and in accordance with the manufacturer’s equipment specifications for calibration and directions for proper use. The pool operator shall maintain a written daily record of all test results, equipment readings, calibrations, and corrective action taken at the public pool site.

(b) If the pool operator adds cyanuric acid to a public pool, the pool operator shall measure the cyanuric acid concentration in that pool a minimum of once per month and shall maintain a written record of these test results and all corrective action taken at the public pool site.

(c) The pool operator shall maintain a written record of routine maintenance and repairs to the public pool at the public pool site.

(d) If a fecal, vomit, blood contamination, near-drowning, or drowning incident occurs in a pool, the pool operator shall record the incident in accordance with the requirements of section 65546 and shall identify the affected public pool in the incident record if there is more than one pool at the public pool site. This record shall be maintained at the public pool site.

(e) The pool operator shall maintain data and records collected pursuant to subdivisions (a), (b), (c), and (d) for at least two years for inspection by the enforcing agent and shall submit all data and records to the enforcing agent upon the agent’s request.

California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65521. Public Pool Supervision and Operation

(a) Every public pool shall be under the supervision of a pool operator.

(b) The pool operator shall maintain pool operating procedures at the public pool site for use by the pool operator and for inspection by the enforcing agent.

(c) The pool operator shall maintain manufacturers’ instructions for the operation and maintenance of all mechanical and electrical equipment and water treatment systems at the public pool site for use by the pool operator and for inspection by the enforcing agent.

California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65511. Inspection

Except after seasonal closures, the enforcing agent shall give written approval before a public pool may be placed in operation.

California Code of Regulations (Cal. Code Reg.): Title 22 – Social Security  >   Cal. Code Reg. §65503. Scope

(a) The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to all public pools and public pool sites, including, but not limited to:

(1) Amusement park pools.

(2) Apartment house pools.

(3) Bed and breakfast inn pools.

(4) Campground pools.

(5) Club pools.

(6) Commercial pools.

(7) Condominium pools.

(8) Health or fitness club pools.

(9) Homeowner association pools.

(10) Hotel pools.

(11) Licensed day care facility pools.

(12) Medical facility pools.

(13) Mineral springs pools.

(14) Motel pools.

(15) Municipal pools.

(16) Public or private school pools.

(17) Recreational vehicle or mobile home park pools.

(18) Resort pools.

(19) Special purpose pools.

(20) Spray grounds.

(21) Swim school pools.

(22) Water park pools.

(23) Wave pools.

(b) Mineral springs pools that meet the fresh water flow exception standard in section 3123B.1, Title 24, California Code of Regulations (CCR), must comply with all the public pool standards in this chapter except for continuous public pool disinfection requirements in section 65529, if monthly bacteriological water-quality standards are met according to section 65531. Mineral springs pools that do not meet the fresh water flow exception standard in section 3123B.1, Title 24, CCR, shall comply with all public pool standards in this chapter and Title 24, CCR.

(c) The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to all ancillary facilities and equipment provided, operated, and maintained in connection with public pools, including, but not limited to:

(1) Dressing rooms.

(2) Drinking fountains.

(3) Fencing and enclosures.

(4) Locker rooms.

(5) Pool decks.

(6) Safety equipment.

(7) Shower rooms.

(8) Toilet facilities.

(9) Water treatment systems.

(d) A private pool is any constructed pool, permanent or portable, that is intended for use by occupants of not more than three residential units. Private pools are not public pools for the provisions of this chapter.