Operating a public swimming pool, spa, or spray ground

These are the legal requirements for pools open to the public:

• Free chlorine minimum:
  • 1 ppm (without cyanuric acid stabilizer)
  • 2 ppm (with cyanuric acid stabilizer)
• Free chlorine maximum: 10 ppm
• pH: must be between 7.2 - 7.8
• Cyanuric acid stabilizer maximum: 100 ppm

These are the legal requirements for spas, wading pools, and spray grounds open to the public:

• Free chlorine minimum: 3 ppm
• Free chlorine maximum: 10 ppm
• pH: must be between 7.2 – 7.8
• Cyanuric acid stabilizer maximum: 100 ppm

If testing shows your pool or spa isn’t meeting these requirements, you need to close your pool, spa, or spray grounds and have it serviced. If found during an inspection that the chemistry doesn’t meet these requirements, we will close the pool or spa and it will remain closed until an inspector says you can reopen.

At least once a day*, you need to test and keep written records of: 

• Disinfectant residual (free chlorine)
• pH levels
• Temperature
• Maintenance & repairs (cleaning filters, adding chemicals, equipment changes)
• Accidents & incidents (trips/falls, poop, vomit, or blood in the pool, drownings or near drowning)

You may use our daily pool chemistry log sheet to record some of this information.

*If your site has less than twenty-five (25) units, you will need to record the chemistry at least twice per week. 

VGB covers are also called suction covers, anti-entrapment covers, anti-vortex covers, or (Suction Outlet Fitting Assemblies) SOFAs. Hair can be pulled into pool drains and bodies can be trapped against pool drains if they are not protected with one of these approved covers.

The Virginia Graeme Baker Act was signed into law in 2007. The act is named after a child who died in 2002 when the suction from a spa drain entrapped her under the water. The VGB act requires that all public swimming pools and spas be equipped with anti-entrapment drain covers that comply with American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)/American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards.

VGB covers have an expiration date and must be replaced on or before this date (usually 5 years) to avoid closure. We will remind owners when covers are due for replacement, but it is the owner’s responsibility to replace covers when they expire. Before replacing covers, you must submit information to us to review.

Enclosures are meant to prevent access to small children and prevent accidental drownings. They must meet these requirements:   

• Be made of durable materials.
• Be at least 5 feet high.
• Have no gaps that are greater than 4 inches.
• Not be easily climbable.
• Horizontal sections of fencing must be at least 48 inches apart.
• No doors, gates, or openable windows that are part of homes/private property may be located within the pool enclosure.
• Must be constructed over hard material, like concrete.
• There must be no climbable structures or slopes within 5 feet of the outside of the enclosure.
• Gates must open outward and be self-closing and self-latching.
• Gates must open to a public walkway.

You may have an older pool site with an enclosure that does not meet all these requirements. If we determine that these older enclosures are unsafe or if the pool, spa, or spray ground is remodeled, we will require that the enclosure be repaired so it meets the code requirements. 

This equipment, which includes the pump, filter, and disinfectant feeders, must be operating during all times a pool is open for use. 

Chlorine tablets placed in the skimmer or in a floating dispensing device are not allowed. Placing the wrong type of tablet into a dispenser may create mustard gas or explosions. 

Automatic pool cleaning equipment 

Cleaning equipment, (such as pool sweeps) must be detached and removed during hours that the pool is open. 

ADA compliance is enforced by the Justice Department, local building department, and private parties in court. We recommend an ADA evaluation of your pool by a certified consultant or a trained architect.