Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 511 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Chapter 511-3 - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARDS
Subject 511-3-5 - PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS, SPAS, AND RECREATIONAL WATER PARKS
Rule 511-3-5-.20 - Recreational Water Parks and Special Purpose Pools

Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 511-3-5-.20

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through September 23, 2024

The rule provides specifications for the design and operation of special purpose pools, such as amusement rides and water slides, whether used in recreational water parks or aquatic facilities as a standalone attraction or in combination with other attractions or pools. The design of special purpose pools shall comply with the specifications in this Rule and other applicable rules in this Chapter. This Rule describes several types of special purpose pools, but it is not intended to be an exhaustive list of such pools.

(1) Deviation from requirements.

(a) A special purpose pool may deviate from the requirements of this Chapter if and to the extent:

1. A variance from this regulation is obtained from the Department to accommodate the design and use of the special purpose pool; or

2. The design and construction of the attraction meet sound engineering practice and present no health or safety hazard; and

3. The facility provides appropriate supervision onsite during hours of operation.

(b) If combined pool types are approved within a recreational water park or aquatic facility, each pool must comply with the applicable chapter provisions as if the pool functioned independently.

(c) The designing engineer and manufacturer, if applicable, must verify that the device or design meets the applicable American Society for Testing and Materials standard or Consumer Product Safety Commission regulation.

(2) Interactive Water Play Pool.

(a) The water supply for an interactive water play pool must, at all times, meet the requirements relating to water quality set forth in DPH Rule 511-3-5-.17.

(b) The interactive water play pool must be equipped, at its lowest point, with an unvalved drain of sufficient capacity and design to prevent the accumulation of water in the pool. Any direct suction outlets shall be prohibited.

(c) If an interactive water play pool is positioned near a deeper water swimming pool, then it must be located at the shallow end and must be separated from the deeper water by at least ten feet of deck, or by a barrier or fence meeting the requirements of this section. The design shall meet the following:

1. The minimum size of the tank shall be equal to the volume of two and one-half minutes of the combined flow of all feature pumps and the filter pump.

2. Adequate access shall be provided to the reservoir. Stairs or a ladder shall be provided as needed to ensure safe entry into the tank.

3. When an underground reservoir is utilized, an automatic skimmer system shall be provided. A variable height skimmer may be used or a custom surface skimmer device may be substituted if deemed appropriate by both the design engineer and the health authority.

4. The filter system shall be capable of filtering and treating the entire water volume of the reservoir tank within thirty minutes. The filter system shall draft from the tank and return filtered and treated water to the tank through equally spaced inlet fittings.

5. The water feature pump shall draft from the reservoir tank and an automatic water level controller shall be provided.

6. The flow rate through the feature nozzles of the water features shall be such as not to harm the patrons and shall not exceed twenty feet per second unless justified by the design engineer and by the fountain system manufacturer.

7. An overfill waste line with air gap shall be provided and a means of vacuuming and completely draining the tank shall be provided.

8. Depth markers are not required.

(d) Interactive water play pools floor slope shall be at least one foot in twelve feet vertical to horizontal or gentler slope.

(e) The density factor used to determine theoretical peak occupancy shall be eight square feet per bather and one person per fifteen square feet of deck area.

(f) A barrier shall be provided to separate an interactive water play, wading, and wading interactive pools from other bodies of water within the same facility. The barrier shall comply with this Chapter unless:

1. The pool is separated by a distance of at least ten feet from other bodies of water;

2. If the aquatic facility consists only of one or more increased risk pools, such as interactive water play pools, then the requirements for an enclosure between pools are not required; or

3. A variance has been approved by the Department.

(g) For zero-depth-entry into pools, the floor slope shall be at a one foot in twelve feet vertical to horizontal or gentler slope. Trench drains shall be used along zero depth entries at the waterline to facilitate surface skimming.

(3) Water slides.

(a) A water slide shall consist of one or more flumes, landing pools, or slide runouts, a pump reservoir, and facilities for the disinfection and chemical treatment of the water.

(b) The structural design of a water slide and the materials used in its construction must conform to generally-accepted structural engineering practices and must provide a sound, durable structure that will safely sustain all the dead loads, operational loads, water loads, rider loads, and environmental loads encountered.

(c) All components of a water slide that come into contact with bathers must be assembled, arranged, and finished so that their external surfaces and edges do not present an injury hazard to the skin of users under casual contact.

(d) The owner of a water slide and the state registered professional engineer who designs and certifies the slide construction are responsible for the safe design and construction of the entire facility.

(e) The design engineer shall comply with this chapter and must provide documentation certification that the water slide design conforms to the following standards or any successor standards;

1. ASTM F2376-13 Standard Practice for Classification, Design, Manufacture, Construction, and Operation of Water Slide Systems;

2. ASTM F2469-09 Standard Practice for Manufacturer, Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of Aquatic Play Equipment; and

3. Ga. Rules & Regs. Chapter 120-3-27 Amusement Rides.

(f) Flumes.

1. Each flume of a water slide must be water-tight. Its surfaces must be inert, nontoxic, smooth and easily cleaned.

2. Flume material shall be demonstrated as strong enough to support specified loads.

3. Flume components, maintained using the manufacturer's instructions, shall not deteriorate over time in such a way that a hazard will develop.

4. If a tube-type flume is used, it must be designed or ventilated to prevent a hazardous concentration of toxic disinfectant fumes under all circumstances of operation.

5. Open flumes shall be configured to contain the rider or vehicle under all reasonable operating conditions.

6. Open water slide flumes shall be kept clear of obstacles within the water slide clearance envelope. Flume risers sections may be added to block access to anything encroaching in the area.

7. Water slides shall have additional sidewall height provided by a flume riser section on the outside part of all horizontal curves to contain the rider.

8. Lateral centripetal forces shall be considered in curved sections of flumes. Predicted rider speeds should be used to calculate these forces.

9. The flume must be designed and constructed so as to prevent bathers from falling out of the flume in elevated sections where a bather might be able to stop contrary to intended use.

10. The construction, dimensions and methods of mechanical attachment of a flume must provide a smooth and continuous surface through the entire length of the flume. Seams and joints shall be properly designed to prevent misalignment.

11. The walls of any flume must be designed so that the continuous and combined action of hydrostatic, dynamic and static loads, as well as normal environmental deterioration do not damage the flume bed to the extent of creating a structural failure that presents a hazard of injury to users or that requires frequent patch repairs that may weaken the structural integrity of the flume.

(g) Flume exit. The exit of any flume must be designed to ensure that bathers enter the landing pool or slide runout at a safe speed and angle of entry. If a slide that has two or more flumes, and there is a point of intersection between the centerlines of any two flumes, then the distance between that point and the point of exit for each intersecting flume must not be less than twenty feet, or thirty feet if any users exit a flume at high speed, or as otherwise certified by the design engineer.

(h) Exit into landing pool. If users exit the flume of a water slide into a landing pool, then the following requirements apply:

1. Landing pools shall be designed to decelerate and stop riders and allow them to exit the water slide without encountering an obstruction.

2. The exit path for riders shall not cross with the landing zone of other slides. The designated pool exit shall be such as to force the riders to move forward and away from the paths of riders from other flumes.

3. The flume must be horizontal and perpendicular to the wall of the pool at the point of exit.

4. The flume must be designed with an exit system that provides for safe entry into the landing pool or slide runout. Present practices for safe entry shall follow the manufacturer's recommendation and ASTM standard. Other methods are acceptable as long as safe exit velocities and proper body altitudes are assured under normal use by the designing engineer;

5. The flume at pool entry shall be straight for the last eight of the water slide entering the pool. The exit must be flush with the vertical wall of the pool at the point of exit and not more than two inches above, nor less than six inches below, the normal operating level of the pool, unless otherwise certified by the design engineer; and

6. The distance between:

(i) The side wall for a body slide landing pool and that portion of the flume exit nearest the wall must be not less than five feet and for a tube slide landing pool not less than four and one-half feet at the points of measurement in the pool;

(ii) The centerline of the flume and the centerline of any adjacent flume must arranged to minimize the opportunity for contact with other riders when exiting the flumes of adjacent slides simultaneously and not be less than six feet at the point of exit; unless otherwise certified by the design engineer.

(iii) The point of exit and the side of the landing pool opposite the bathers as they exit must be of sufficient length to decelerate and stop riders and minimize the potential for contact with the landing pool wall or stationary objects like ladders or steps, must not be less than twenty if the flume ends above or below the normal operating water level of the pool, unless otherwise certified by the design engineer.

(i) Landing Pools.

1. When a landing pool is used at a water slide flume, it must be located at the end of the slide.

2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3)(e) above, or as certified by the design engineer, the water depth in a landing pool at the end of the flume must be minimum of three and one-half feet from the normal operating water level to the floor. This depth must be maintained for distance of not less than twenty feet from the point of exit from the flume or not less than thirty feet if the point of exit is even with the normal operating water level. The landing pool for a high speed slide will require additional length and water depth. The health authority may waive these requirements if a special exit system is used or if the manufacturer or design engineer designates a safe exit configuration from the flume and safe entry into the landing pool.

3. Beyond the area of level floor required above, in the area of the pool opposite the point of exit from the flume or other falling-entry feature, the floor of the landing pool may have a constant slope or a slope upward of not more than l foot in 7 feet.

4. If steps are provided instead of exit ladders or recessed steps with handrails, a handrail meeting the requirements of this Chapter must be provided at the steps opposite the point of exit from each flume.

(j) Decks. A deck must be provided along the exit side of the landing pool and along one or more of the other sides of the pool. The pump and reservoir must be accessible from a deck not less than three feet wide.

(k) Means of access.

1. A concrete walkway, steps, stairway, or ramp must be provided for access between the landing pool and the top of the flume.

2. The walkway or other means of access must:

(i) not retain standing water;

(ii) conform to the structural requirements of the local building code;

(iii) be at least four feet wide;

(iv) be provided with handrails;

(v) have a slip-resistant surface;

(vi) be separated from the flume by a physical barrier that is located a safe distance from the flume so that it cannot be touched by users of the flume.

(l) Slide runouts.

1. Slide runouts, if used, must have an exit opening or step, unless one or both of the walls of the runout are not more than nineteen inches in height.

2. Slide runouts must be designed with adequate length and water depth and sloped so as to bring the user to a safe stop.

(m) Pump reservoirs.

1. Pump reservoirs used in water slides must have sufficient volume to contain not less than two minutes of combined flow from all water treatment and flume pumps, or must contain enough water to ensure that the landing pool will maintain a constant water depth.

2. The interior of pump reservoirs must be water-tight with a hard trowel or equivalent slip-resistant finish.

3. Pump reservoirs must be accessible only to authorized persons. Intakes to the slide pump must be designed to allow cleaning without danger of trapping the operator.

(n) Control of water.

1. A surge-free automatic water makeup system with a manual override must be installed to maintain the normal operating water level of the landing pool at all times. An approved backflow prevention device must be provided.

2. The velocity of water at the weir or inlet grate must not exceed one and one-half feet per second.

3. The suction outlet drain of the falling-entry pool must be clearly visible from the deck with the flume water turned off.

(o) Waterslide Rules. The operator of a water slide or other falling-entry feature shall post one or more warning signs at the entrance to the facility. A sign with the heading "Risk of Illness and Injury", must state that the following types of conduct are prohibited within the facility:

1. Running, standing, kneeling, rotating, tumbling, or stopping in any flume or tunnel.

2. Rough playing on the slide or feature.

3. Diving or flipping while exiting from a flume or feature.

4. Use of the slide while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

5. Use of the flume or feature by more than one person at a time.

6. Failure to obey the instructions of the pool attendant or lifeguard.

7. Failure to keep hands inside the flume while using the slide.

8. Failure to leave the falling-entry pool promptly after exiting from the slide.

9. The possession of any glass, bottle or food in or near any pool.

10. Entry into an area of grass or other vegetation and returning to slide, feature or pool.

11. The possession of any loose objects.

12. The use of any clothing other than the swimwear on the slide or feature.

13. Wearing any bracelet, watch, or other jewelry.

(p) Precautions for safety.

1. An attendant must be on duty at all times while a water slide is open for use. The attendant shall serve as the safety director of the slide. In that capacity, the attendant shall control crowds, keep bathers moving through the pool or runout in an orderly fashion, and control any unsafe behavior in the lower flumes, in the pool or runout, or on the decks at the base of the slide.

2. An attendant must be on duty at all times while the water slide is open for use. The attendant shall control bathers near the entrance, regulate the departure of each bather down the slide, and control any unsafe behavior in the upper flumes.

3. Radio or other means of communication acceptable to the health authority must be provided between the flume entry attendant and the splash pool or slide runout lifeguard.

4. Each water slide must have a means to allow the flume entry attendant to monitor the slide exit.

(q) Pool Slides. All pool slides shall be designed, constructed, and installed to provide a safe environment for all bathers utilizing the slide in accordance with the applicable ASTM and CPSC standard.

1. Water depth at the slide exit shall be determined by the slide manufacturer.

2. The landing area in the pool shall be protected through the use of a float line, peninsula, or other similar design to prevent collision with other bathers.

3. Clear space shall be maintained to the pool edge and between other features per manufacturer requirements.

4. A barrier or netting shall be provided to prevent bather access underneath the pool slide where sufficient clearance is not provided. Openings in any barrier or netting shall not allow for the passage of a four inch sphere and no opening can create a finger entrapment.

5. Pool slides must have an attendant during hours of operation to monitor activity and compliance with the posted manufacturer warnings.

(4) Activity pools. Amusement devices used in activity pools must be designed and maintained so that their surfaces are smooth, nontoxic and easily cleanable. The devices must not pose a safety or health hazard to users and must not interfere with circulation or disinfection of the water. The pool and equipment shall meet the following;

(a) Play and water activity equipment shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

(b) A rope and float line shall be provided to identify a water depth of more than four and one half feet in a constant floor slope configuration.

(c) Floating devices not intended to be mobile shall be anchored in a manner to restrict movement to the range established by the manufacturer; and

(d) ASTM F2469-09 Standard Practice for Manufacturer, Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of Aquatic Play Equipment and Consumer Product Safety Commission standards shall be met.

(5) Wave pools.

(a) The generation of waves more than three feet in height in a wave pool, regardless of the depth of the pool, must not continue for more than fifteen minutes at a time.

(b) The main drain must be clearly visible from the deck with the wave generating equipment turned off.

(c) Bather access to the wave pool shall be allowed only at the shallow or beach end. The sides of the pool must be protected from unauthorized entry into the pool by the use of a fence or other comparable barrier.

(d) Wave pools must be provided with handholds at the static water level. These handholds must be self-draining and must be installed so that their outer edge is flush with the pool wall. The design of the handholds must ensure that body extremities will not become entangled during wave action.

(e) Life jackets must be provided free for use by bathers who request them.

(f) Each permanent station for pool attendants and lifeguards must be provided with a clearly labeled and readily accessible emergency shut-off switch for the control of the wave action. A minimum of two emergency shut-off switches to disable the wave action shall be provided, one on each side of the wave pool.

(g) An audible warning system must be provided to alert bathers of the beginning of wave generation.

(h) Stepholes and handrails must be provided at one or more locations along the wall of the wave pool. The stepholes and handrails must extend down the wall so they will be accessible during wave generation at the lowest water level. The distance between the handrail and the wall must not exceed six inches.

(i) A rope and float line shall be installed to restrict bather access to the wave pool caisson wall. The location of the rope and float line shall be in accordance with the wave equipment manufacturer's instructions. The wall anchors shall be recessed and be made of corrosion-resistant material. A float line is not required to separate the first point of transition from shallow to deep.

(6) Wading Interactive/Child amusement lagoons. Devices used in child amusement lagoons must be designed and maintained so that their surfaces are smooth, nontoxic and easily cleanable.

(a) The devices must not pose a safety or health hazard to bathers and must not interfere with circulation or disinfection of the water.

(b) The devices shall comply with ASTM F2469-09 Standard Practice for Manufacturer, Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of Aquatic Play Equipment and Consumer Product Safety Commission Standards.

(7) Leisure River, Continuous Water Channel - Watercourse rides.

(a) Handrails, steps, stairs, and booster inlets for watercourse rides must not protrude into the watercourse.

(b) The watercourse must not be narrower than twelve feet and not deeper than three and one half feet.

(d) A deck must be provided along at least one side of the water course.

(e) The design velocity of the water in a watercourse ride must not exceed two miles per hour.

(f) The design engineer of a continuous water course may deviate from the requirements in subsections (a) - (e) above if sound engineering and safety practices are met.

(g) All bridges spanning a watercourse shall have a minimum clearance of both seven feet from the bottom of the watercourse and four feet above the water surface to any structure overhead.

(8) Sanitary and Dressing Facilities for Waterparks. The design of the facility and the number of fixtures for the first 7500 square feet or fraction thereof of water available for bather access shall meet DPH Rule 511-3-5-.19. For every additional 7500 square feet or fraction thereof of water available for bather access at the facility, there shall be not less than one water closet for males, one urinal for males, one lavatory for males, one shower for males, two water closets for females, one lavatory for females and one shower for females.

(a) A rinse shower shall be on the deck or at entrance of each pool or attraction.

(b) Water used for rinse showers may be at ambient temperature.

O.C.G.A. §§ 31-2A-6, 31-12-8, 31-45-10.

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