Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Water
Quality - The water supply for all pools shall be an approved potable water
system or shall meet the requirements for potable water systems by the
submission from the operator of annual bacteriological and chemical laboratory
reports to the county health department. Salt water sources are exempt from the
potable water chemical standards except for iron and color requirements.
(a) Cross-connection prevention - To
safeguard water quality, devices or systems shall be operational and maintained
in their original functional condition.
(b) Bacteriological quality - The pool water
shall be free of coliform bacteria contamination.
(c) Clarity - The pool water shall be 0.5 or
less NTU and the main drain grate must be readily visible from the pool
deck.
(d) Chemical quality -
Chemicals used in controlling the quality of the pool water shall be tested and
approved using the NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 60-2021, Drinking Water Treatment
Chemicals-Health Effects, April 16, 2021, or Chapter 27 of NSF/ANSI/CAN
Standard 50-2020, Equipment and Chemicals for Swimming Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs,
and Other Recreational Water Facilities, October 21, 2020, and shall be
compatible with other accepted chemicals used in pools. NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard
60-2021 and Chapter 27 of NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 50-2020 are incorporated by
reference, have been deemed copyright protected, and are available for
inspection at the Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Health, 4025
Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, Florida 32311 or at the Department of State, R.A.
Gray Building, 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250. The
following parameters shall be adhered to for pool water treatment:
1. pH - 7.0 to 7.8.
2. Disinfection - Free chlorine residual
shall be as follows: 1 milligram per liter (mg/L) to a maximum of 10.0 mg/L,
inclusive, in conventional swimming pools; 2 mg/L to 10.0 mg/L, inclusive, in
all other type pools such as swim-up bars, wading pools, special purpose pools,
water recreation attraction pools, and interactive water fountains; and 2 mg/L
to 5 mg/L, inclusive, in spa-type pools; or available bromine residual shall be
1.5 mg/L to 6 mg/L, inclusive, in conventional swimming pools and 3 mg/L to 6
mg/L, inclusive, in all other type pools. Except that, for indoor conventional
swimming pools, the maximum disinfectant residuals shall be 5 mg/L free
chlorine and 6 mg/L free bromine.
3. When oxidation-reduction potential (ORP)
controllers are required, the water potential shall be kept between 700 and 850
millivolts. Use of these units does not negate the manual daily testing
requirement of subsection
64E-9.004(10),
F.A.C.
4. Cyanuric acid - 100 mg/L
maximum in pools, with 40 mg/L as the recommended maximum, and 40 mg/L maximum
in spa pools.
5. Quaternary
ammonium - 5 mg/L maximum.
6.
Copper - 1 mg/L maximum.
7. Silver
- 0.1 mg/L maximum.
(e)
Landscape irrigation water that wets the wet deck area of the pool, the pool
itself, enters the collector tank, or wets an interactive water feature must be
potable water from a public water system or shall meet the bacteriological
quality of potable water as evidenced by annual laboratory analysis submitted
to the department. Reclaimed water may not be used in these areas. If reclaimed
water is used in the vicinity of the pool (inside of the pool fence or within
100 feet of the pool water's edge) it must employ drip irrigation or soaker
hoses. Signs shall be posted notifying pool patrons that reclaimed water is in
use, and is not to be consumed.
(2) Manual addition of chemicals will be
allowed under special conditions and requires that the pool be closed prior to
addition and for at least 1 hour period after addition or a longer period as
necessary for sufficient and safe distribution of the chemical. After treatment
for breakpoint chlorination and algae prevention, use of the pool or spa can be
resumed when the free chlorine levels drop to 10.0 mg/L, or less.
(3) Cleanliness - The pool and pool deck
shall be kept free from sediment, floating debris, visible dirt and algae.
Pools shall be refinished when the pool surfaces cannot be maintained in a safe
and sanitary condition.
(4) Food,
beverages, glass containers, and animals are regulated as follows:
(a) Food and beverages are prohibited in the
pool and on the wet deck area, except:
1.
Commercially bottled water in plastic bottles is allowed on the pool wet deck
for pool patron hydration.
2. Food
and beverages served in accordance with subsection (5)
below.
(b) All glass
containers and products are prohibited in the fenced pool area or within 50
feet of an unfenced pool, except: Glass bottles of liquor used only by
bartenders in a permitted swim-up bar.
(c) Animals, other than service animals, are
prohibited in the fenced pool area or within 50 feet of an unfenced pool.
However, individuals with a disability and service animal trainers may be
accompanied by a service animal, as defined in Section
413.08, F.S., but the service
animal is not allowed to enter the pool water or onto the drained area of an
interactive water feature (IWF) in order to prevent a direct threat to the
health of pool patrons.
(5) Swim-up bars are permitted as provided in
this subsection. A "swim-up bar" means a public swimming pool used for the
consumption of food or beverage by people and may include a permanent bar or
counter within the pool area from which food and beverage are served to people
in the pool. Swim-up bars must meet with the following criteria:
(a) Swim-up bars are only permitted at
transient public lodging establishments licensed under Section 509.013(4)(a)1.,
F.S., or at a theme park or entertainment complex as defined in Section
509.013(9),
F.S.
(b) Food and beverages are
allowed on the wet deck area and in the pool, as follows:
1. All food and beverages must be provided to
patrons in containers that are not made of glass or other vitreous materials,
that if broken could result in patron injury.
2. Food products must be provided to patrons
in spill-resistant clam-shell type containers.
3. Bartenders or attendants must remove and
dispose of all metal tabs, lids, and caps that are used to seal manufactured
beverage containers before providing the beverage to the
patron.
(c) A smooth,
easily cleanable poolside surface must be provided for patrons to place their
food and beverage containers upon.
(d) Signage must be posted to inform patrons
that the public swimming pool has a swim-up bar that provides food and
beverages, that spillages should be reported to staff for rapid cleanup, and
that consumption of alcoholic beverages may cause drowsiness.
(e) Swim-up bar water quality shall be
enhanced by providing a recirculation system with a maximum time of two (2)
hours for turnover of the entire pool water volume.
(f) Swim-up bar water quality shall be
continuously sustained in accordance with subparagraphs (1)(d)1.-3. above
through the use of an automated controller with chemical sensing probes for
disinfection and pH control.
(g)
The maximum depth of the swim-up bar must be no more than 54
inches.
(6) The pool
recirculation system must be operated at all times when the pool is open for
use. The recirculation system may be shut off three hours after the pool closes
but must resume operation three hours before opening the pool. Shut down time
must be controlled by a time clock. When a variable speed pump is used, the
recirculation system shall be operated such that it achieves the equivalent of
6 hours of treatment at 100% design flowrate during the daily closed period, or
at least one complete water volume turnover, whichever is greater. Exception:
vacuum DE systems are excluded from this allowance.
(7) The pool water level must be maintained
at an elevation suitable for continuous skimming without flooding during
periods of non-use.
(8) When use of
a public swimming pool requires an admission or a membership fee, the most
recent pool inspection report shall be posted in plain view of existing and
potential members and patrons.
(9)
Footbaths are prohibited.
(10) Test
kits are required to be on the premises of all pools to determine free active
chlorine and total chlorine using N, N-Diethyl-p-Phenylenediamine (DPD), or
available bromine level, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, and pH.
NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 50-2020 level 1 accuracy-certified water quality test
devices/kits or specific laboratory analysis methods identified by the chemical
product manufacturer must be available to determine the concentration in pool
water of all NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 60-2021 approved chemicals that are fed or
added to a public pool, or the chemical cannot be used. NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard
50-2020, Equipment and Chemicals for Swimming Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs and Other
Recreational Water Facilities, October 21, 2020, is hereby incorporated by
reference, has been deemed copyright protected, and is available for review at
the Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Health, 4025 Esplanade Way,
Tallahassee, Florida 32311 or at the Department of State, R.A. Gray Building,
500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250.
(a) If the following chemicals are fed or
added to the pool water, then test kits for the specific chemical must be used:
cyanuric acid, sodium chloride, quaternary ammonium, ozone and
copper.
(b) When silver is added as
a supplemental disinfectant, a water analysis must be done every six months and
be submitted to the department upon request.
(c) A test kit may be used for multiple
pools, provided the pools have common ownership and they are located on
contiguous property.
(d) The test
kit shall be capable of measuring the level of disinfectant in the normal
operating range.
(11) The
keeping of a daily record of information regarding pool operation, using form
DH 921, Monthly Swimming Pool Report, 3/98, hereby incorporated by reference
and available at
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-06896,
shall be the responsibility of the pool owner or operator. Customized report
forms may be substituted provided they contain the appropriate information and
are made available to the department. The completed report shall reflect
manually conducted pool water tests for pH and disinfectant levels at least
once every 24 hours, and weekly testing for cyanuric acid when chlorinated
isocyanurates are used at spas and pools, and shall be retained at the pool and
made available to the department upon request. Any able person can test the
pool water and record it in the report.
(12) Should a human fecal incident occur, the
pool operator or owner shall comply with all recommendations found in the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) "Fecal Incident Response
Recommendations for Aquatic Staff" dated June 22, 2018, hereby incorporated by
reference and available at
https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15364.
Alternative emergency disinfection methods developed by industry, or by the
application of new disinfection technology, or by the use of chemical
disinfectants that are effective, safe, and appropriate for public bathing
facilities, and are approved by the CDC, may also be used.
Rulemaking Authority 381.006, 514.021 FS. Law Implemented
381.006, 514.021, 514.031 FS.
New 10-5-93, Formerly 10D-5.133, Amended 12-27-98, 5-27-04,
5-24-09, 7-20-16, 6-11-23.
