Nebraska Administrative Code
Topic - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM
Title 178 - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Chapter 2 - DESIGN CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS
Section 178-2-007 - POOL OPERATING STANDARDS

Universal Citation: 178 NE Admin Rules and Regs ch 2 ยง 007

Current through March 20, 2024

007.01 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. The following safety requirements must be met at all pools unless otherwise indicated:

(1) Water in unbreakable containers is permitted in the swimming pool. Food and beverages are permitted in designated areas of the pool deck if they are in unbreakable containers;

(2) Class A, B, and F pools must have a boundary line per 178 NAC 002.05. During swimming lessons, lap swims, and swim meets, ropes and floats may be moved to enable those purposes to be accomplished if the pool is under the direct supervision of an individual responsible for supervising the group;

(3) Water depth must be plainly marked at or above the water surface on the vertical pool wall and on the edge of the deck at maximum and minimum points of break between the deep and shallow portions and at intermediate increments of depth, spaced at no more than 25-foot intervals. Depth markings must be in numerals at least 4 inches high and in a color contrasting with the background. Where depth markings cannot be placed on the vertical walls above the water level, or space does not allow 4-inch letters, other means must be used so that markings are plainly visible to persons in the pool;

(4) Each lifeguard on duty must have within arm's reach a rescue tube equipped with a 6-feet long strap or tow rope. Class B and Class F pools must provide either a rescue tube or a ring buoy, United States Coast Guard approved, or its equivalent, with an attached rope at least as long as the width of the pool;

(5) Class B pools must provide a shepherd's crook type of pole having blunted ends with a minimum length of 12 feet;

(6) Class A pools must have a backboard equipped with at least three straps.

(7) First aid kit
(a) Each Class A pool must have a first aid kit which contains the following materials:
(i) 3 units triangular bandage;

(ii) 2 units 1" tape;

(iii) 6 units 3" x 3" plain gauze pad;

(iv) 2 units 2" x 6 yds. gauze roller bandage;

(v) 1 unit tweezer, bandage scissor;

(vi) 1 unit Red Cross First Aid Book or an equivalent substitute;

(vii) 1 unit assorted bandages, such as Band-aids;

(viii) 1 unit latex-free gloves (or equivalent);

(ix) 1 unit rescue breathing face shield or mask; and

(x) 1 unit emergency response pack for cleaning up blood.

(b) All other pools must have a first aid kit;

(8) Lifesaving equipment must be mounted in conspicuous places, accessible, its function plainly marked, and kept in repair and ready condition. Bathers or others must not be permitted to tamper with, use for any purpose other than its intended use, or remove such equipment from its established location;

(9) Swimming pools must have an accessible working telephone in the pool enclosure or easily visible from the pool enclosure with emergency telephone numbers prominently posted. If a cellular phone is used, service must be reliable, the phone charged at all times, and be equipped with 911 locations services;

(10) All Class A swimming pools must conduct an emergency drill within 30 days of opening for the season. Additionally, an emergency drill must be conducted with new pool employees within 30 days of employment. Pools operating year round or seasonal pools that operate for more than 6 months a year, must conduct emergency drills at least once every 6 months;

(11) The pool owner or the Nebraska swimming pool operator must immediately notify the Department of any drowning or near drowning. Any accident occurring on the pool premises requiring hospitalization or medical treatment must be reported within 24 hours on forms provided by the Department;

(12) Footbaths are prohibited;

(13) Ladders, ladder rungs, ramps , and handrails must be securely anchored;

(14) During hours of operation, unsupervised entrance areas and gates for fences separating wading pools, spas, and swimming pools within the perimeter fence must not be locked but must be self-closing and self-latching;

(15) A thermometer must be available for each Class C pool;

(16) Decks must be clear of bags and personal items in an area large enough to allow emergency personnel to reach a victim;

(17) A properly operating carbon monoxide detector is required in the pool enclosure for indoor pools where gas or propane is used for heating and in enclosed mechanical rooms where there is a gas or propane fueled water heater;

(18) Water temperature in a pool must not exceed 104 º F;

(19) An emergency shutoff switch must be located within sight of the spa, at least 5 feet horizontally from the inside walls of the spa, and must be clearly labeled. This control must disable all spa circulation, agitation, air induction systems, as well as other associated mechanical, chemical feed, and electrical devices, not including lighting;

(20) Skimmers and drain covers must be kept clean and operational;

(21) The chemical feed system must be maintained and operational;

(22) All gauges associated with the operation and maintenance of the pool must be properly maintained;

(23) Covers on outlets that create suction must be properly maintained;

(24) The bottom and sides of a pool must be white or a light color, with a smooth and easily cleanable surface;

(25) Pool lighting must be secure and in good operating condition;

(26) The barrier surrounding the pool must be maintained so that any openings will not allow a 4-inch sphere to pass through;

(27) Backflow or cross connection devices must be in place where required and must be properly maintained;

(28) All pools must have main drain systems, suction outlets or anti-entrapment devices or systems that comply with 178 NAC 2-005.11(H) and 2-005.11(I);

(29) Chemical safety;
(a) Chemicals that are toxic or irritating to humans must not be added to a swimming pool from the deck of the pool while the pool is in use. This includes, but is not limited to, disinfectant chemical, pH control chemical, algaecide, and shock treatment chemical. When chemical additions are made from the deck, the Nebraska swimming pool operator must follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper use of the product. The Nebraska swimming pool operator must test the water as appropriate before allowing use of the swimming pool. The chemical addition and the test results must be recorded in the swimming pool records;

(b) Chemical storage containers must be clearly labeled and treatment chemicals must be stored and handled in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations;

(c) Material safety data sheets (MSDS) for the chemicals used at the pool must be at the facility in a location known and readily accessible to the facility staff;

(d) A warning sign stating "AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY" must be placed on the door of rooms where chemicals are used or stored, or where bulk containers are located. Rooms must be kept locked at all times except when occupied by authorized personnel;

(e) Where chlorine gas is used, chlorine cylinders and proportioning equipment must be housed in a separate, well-ventilated enclosure. All full and empty chlorine cylinders must be secured to the scale or to the walls to prevent accidental tipping. The enclosure must have a vent at floor level which terminates out-of-doors and must contain:
(i) An approved scale for weighing the chlorine cylinders to determine the amount of chlorine fed over any period and to permit the Nebraska swimming pool operator to know when the supply of chlorine in the cylinder is nearing exhaustion;

(ii) An ammonia fume dispenser bottle to be used to check for chlorine leaks;

(iii) An approved chlorine cylinder valve stem wrench. This wrench must be maintained on the valve stem of the cylinder(s) in use so that the chlorine supply can be shut off quickly in the case of an emergency; and

(iv) Valve protection hoods kept in place on all cylinders except those attached to the chlorinator.

007.02 WATER QUALITY AND DISINFECTANTS. Failure to meet any standard in this section will result in immediate closing of the swimming pool.

007.02(A) CLARITY. The water must be sufficiently clear at all times so the main drain cover or grate is visible.

007.02(B) DEBRIS. The pool water must be free from all scum and floating matter on the surface and from dirt and other materials or objects.

007.02(C) COMBINED CHLORINE. If a chlorine chemical is used for disinfection, the water must be tested for combined chlorine at least once each week the swimming pool is open for use. The combined chlorine must not exceed 0.5 parts per million (ppm).

007.02(D) CHLORINE. Spas using chlorine as a disinfectant must maintain a free chlorine residual of at least 3.0 parts per million (ppm). All other swimming pools using chlorine as a disinfectant must maintain a free chlorine residual of at least 2.0 parts per million (ppm) in all parts of the pool.

007.02(E) BROMINE. Spas using bromine as a disinfectant must maintain a total bromine residual of at least 4.0 parts per million (ppm). All other swimming pools using bromine as a disinfectant must maintain a total bromine residual of at least 2.0 parts per million (ppm) in all parts of the pool.

007.02(F) MINIMUM DISINFECTANT LEVELS. A spa must be closed if the free chlorine residual is less than 3.0 parts per million (ppm) or the total bromine residual is less than 4.0 parts per million (ppm). All other pools must be closed if the minimum level of free chlorine residual is less than 2.0 parts per million (ppm) or the total bromine residual is less than 2.0 parts per million (ppm).

007.02(G) MAXIMUM DISINFECTANT LEVELS. All swimming pools must be closed if the free chlorine residual exceeds 10.0 parts per million (ppm) or the total bromine residual exceeds 18 parts per million (ppm).

007.02(H) OTHER DISINFECTANTS. The Department will accept other disinfection methods when it has been adequately demonstrated that they provide a satisfactory residual which is easily measured and that they are as effective under conditions of use as is the chlorine concentration specified in 178 NAC 2-007.02(D), and are not dangerous to public health.

007.02(I) CYANURATES. In pools where cyanurates are used, the cyanuric acid levels must be below 90 parts per million (ppm).

007.02(J) pH. The water must maintain a pH of not less than 7.2 and not over 7.8.

007.02(K) ALKALINITY. The total alkalinity of the water must be a minimum of 80 parts per million (ppm).

007.03 REQUIRED TESTING AND RECORDKEEPING. The following records must be kept on forms provided by the Department.

007.03(A) DAILY RECORDS AND TESTS. Daily records must document patron load totals, amounts of chemicals used, and maintenance or any malfunction of equipment. Daily records must also document the following tests, which must be performed every day:
(i) The disinfectant residual must be tested before opening and then at intervals not longer than four hours until closing time. If the swimming pool, wading pool, or spa is equipped with an automatic controller with a readout or printout of the disinfectant residual, the Nebraska swimming pool operator may make visible readings of the disinfectant residual and record them. The swimming pool water must be tested manually by means of a Ferrous Ammonium Sulfate-Diethyl-P-Phenylene Diamine (FAS-DPD) test at least once per day before opening. The Nebraska swimming pool operator must specify in the pool records which test is from the automatic controller and which is done manually;

(ii) The pH of the water must be tested each day by means of a phenol red test or equivalent before opening and then at least every four hours until closing time. If the swimming pool, wading pool, or spa is equipped with an automatic controller with a readout or printout of pH, the Nebraska swimming pool operator may make visible readings of the pH and record them. The swimming pool water must be tested manually at least once per day before opening. The Nebraska swimming pool operator must specify in the pool records which test is from the automatic controller and which is done manually. The pH instrumentation must be calibrated periodically according to the manufacturer's instructions if the readout is to be used to supplement manual pH readings; and

(iii) Spa temperature must be taken before opening and then at intervals not longer than four hours until closing time.

007.03(B) WEEKLY RECORDS AND TESTS. Records must document the following tests, which must be performed every week:
(i) Total alkalinity;

(ii) Combined chorine, if chlorine is used as a disinfectant; and

(iii) Cyanuric acid level, where applicable.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Nebraska may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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