View as a webpage  /  Share

October 2024

Dear Pool and Spa Operators,

We hope you are having a good start to Autumn and winding down from a busy season. If you operate a seasonal pool/spa you may have met one of our inspectors this summer. Our Water Recreation Team was able to visit the vast majority of seasonal water recreation facilities (WRFs) and wanted to offer notes on what we observed.

First, we want to highlight items that were in compliance during most of our inspections. Here are a few examples: 

• Good water clarity
• Adequate barrier height
• Pumps and filters operational
• Overflow system functional
• Chemicals properly stored
• Well-maintained locker rooms and restrooms

Below are items we noted that generally need more attention at our WRFs: 

1. Continuous Disinfection

Operators of WRFs must maintain continuous disinfection of swimming pools and spas at all times. Operators are required to test chemical residual levels daily and maintain records in a record log. Any corrective actions taken to adjust water chemistry should also be noted. The acceptable chlorine/bromine range required for swimming pools is 1.5ppm – 10ppm and  3.0 – 10ppm for spas and wading pools. Here are some water disinfection tips:

• You can manually add disinfectant to the pool to raise levels. However, if this has to be done frequently then your feeder likely needs maintenance and should be checked by a licensed professional. Daily addition of disinfectant manually is not acceptable.
• Always dilute disinfectant chemicals in water before adding directly to the pool. (This goes for all chemicals that are manually added). When diluting, pour disinfectant into water; never pour water into disinfectant.
• Do not put chlorine/bromine tablets in skimmers to raise levels.
• Close your pool or spa if the continuous disinfection system needs to be turned off.

2. Self-Closing and Self-Latching Gates

WRFs must have adequate barriers to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access. This season, we noted quite a few gates/doors that did not self-close or self-latch. A door or gate that does not self-close and self-latch could allow a child to access the facility and can pose a potential drowning hazard. Always check your doors and gates leading directly to the pool before and during the season to make sure they self-close/latch. Test the closing and latching mechanisms from a few different angles; we recommend 90°, 45°, 30° and 10°. Sometimes application of lubricant is enough to fix the closing and latching mechanisms.

3. Emergency Phone Requirements

All pool facilities must be equipped with an emergency telephone that is capable of directly dialing 911 or functioning as the emergency notification system. A phone must be available within the facility at lifeguarded facilities. At non-lifeguarded facilities, an emergency phone must be accessible within one minute. The phone should be a hard-wired landline and NOT a cell phone. There are a few reasons for this:  

• There is no chance of a dead phone battery.
• The 911 call goes to dispatch in the correct response area. This prevents the dispatcher from having to forward calls to another city’s dispatch, which may waste valuable response time.
• The dispatcher can see the facility address displayed on the call, so EMS can still be sent swiftly if the caller does not know or cannot provide the address of the facility.

If your facility currently has an emergency cell phone, feel free to contact the Water Recreation Team to discuss your options.

4. Regular Testing of Single Main Drains

Most water recreation facilities have two main drains to help prevent entrapment; however, there are still a few grandfathered facilities in Whatcom County that have single main drains. These systems must have emergency shutoff equipment installed that shuts off all pumps hooked to the recirculation lines for the pool(s) to prevent the possibility of entrapment. This system must be tested at least twice annually—or more frequently if required by manufacturer—by the operator to ensure it works properly. It is considered a failure if the device doesn’t activate and shut down the pump within a few seconds. The operator should work with the manufacturer to fix, calibrate, or demonstrate that the device complies with WAC 246-260-041(11)(h) as installed. See this DOH guidance on single main drains for more information.

Contact Us: