Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 12, March 26, 2025
All swimming pools shall be equipped with a recirculation
system which includes filtration and disinfection facilities to provide water
quality consistent with the bacteriological, chemical and physical standards
required in section
6-1.19 of this Subpart.
(a) Turnover rate. The entire volume of pool
water must be recirculated and treated in six hours. Pools constructed prior to
March 31, 1973 may have an eight-hour turnover rate. Pools with approved design
rate of less than six hours shall be operated at the design rate.
(b) Filtration.
(1) Sand filters.
(i) Gravity and pressure-type sand filters
shall be operated at a filter rate not to exceed three gallons per minute per
square foot (gpm/sf). High-rate sand filters (pressure or vacuum) can be
operated at a filter rate up to 15 gpm/sf.
(ii) Filter air release valves shall be
opened daily, or more frequently if necessary to remove air which collects in
the filters.
(iii) Sand filters
shall be backwashed at a flow rate of 12 to 15 gpm/sf or at the design rate
recommended by the manufacturer.
(2) Diatomaceous earth filters.
(i) Diatomaceous earth filters shall be
properly maintained and operated according to the manufacturer's instructions
and at a filter rate not to exceed two gpm/sf with body feed or 1.5 gpm/sf
without body feed.
(ii)
Diatomaceous earth filter backwash water must discharge to the sewer system
through a separation tank. The separation tank sludge shall be disposed of or
treated as a solid waste material in accordance with local and State laws,
rules and regulations.
(3) Cartridge filters.
(i) Cartridge filters shall be operated at a
filter rate not to exceed the design rate or a maximum of 0.375
gpm/sf.
(ii) Cleaning of cartridge
filters must be in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. One
complete spare set of cartridges shall be available at all times to facilitate
cleaning.
(4) Flow
measurement. All flow meters shall be maintained in accordance with provisions
in section
6-1.29, item 9.8, of this
Subpart.
(c)
Disinfection.
(1) Disinfection with chlorine.
When chlorine gas, calcium hypochlorite or sodium hypochlorite is used to
disinfect a swimming pool and the pool water pH is less than or equal to 7.8,
the dose of chlorine or chlorine compound shall be sufficient to maintain a
concentration of at least 0.6 mg/l free chlorine throughout the swimming pool.
When the pH is between 7.8 and 8.2, a concentration of at least 1.5 mg/l free
chlorine residual shall be maintained. A free chlorine residual of 5.0 mg/l or
a pH of 8.2 shall not be exceeded in any swimming pool during use. All chlorine
solutions shall be added to the pool water by chemical feed equipment
conforming with standards contained in section
6-1.29, item 11.1, of this
Subpart.
(i) Handling of chlorine gas. When
chlorine gas is used as a disinfectant, the chlorinators and any cylinders
containing chlorine gas used therewith shall be housed in an enclosure
separated from other equipment rooms, including the swimming pool, corridors,
dressing rooms and other space used by the bathers, by a tight partition wall
or by a tight partition wall with a door so installed as to prevent gas leakage
and equipped with an inspection window. Chlorine cylinders shall be secured
from falling and cylinders in use shall be secured on a suitable platform
scale. A separate vent opening to the exterior shall be provided. An electric
motor-driven fan shall take suction from near the floor level of the enclosure
and discharge at a suitable point to the exterior above the ground level. The
fan switch shall be able to be operated from outside of the enclosure. All
pools using chlorine gas shall be equipped with a self-contained breathing
apparatus which is kept in a closed cabinet, outside of the room in which the
chlorinator is maintained. The breathing apparatus shall be maintained in
working order and checked monthly. Additional precautions shall be taken in the
handling and storage of chlorine gas at pools as required by the permit-issuing
official to safeguard public health. Any person who operates such chlorinating
equipment shall be familiar with the use of self-contained breathing
apparatus.
(ii) Handling of calcium
hypochlorite. When calcium hypochlorite is used as a disinfectant, extreme
caution must be taken in the handling and mixing of the chemical to avoid
possible fire and explosion hazards. A dry, aboveground, locked storage area
shall be provided. Clean inert materials shall be used, and mixing must be by
pouring the chemical into water and never by pouring water into the
chemical.
(2)
Disinfection with bromine. When bromine is used as the disinfectant, the
following shall be followed:
(i) Bromine
shall be fed on a continuous basis.
(ii) The pool pH shall be maintained between
7.2 and 7.8.
(iii) A concentration
of at least 1.5 mg/l bromine residual shall be maintained throughout the pool
water at all times. A maximum of six mg/l bromine residual shall be permitted
in any swimming pool during use.
(iv) Solid-stick or tablet-type bromine
(brom-chlor-dimethyl-hydantoin) shall be used with feed equipment conforming to
the standards contained in section 6- 1.29, item 11.4, of this
Subpart.
(3) Other
disinfectants. Disinfectants other than those listed above may be used only if
the State Commissioner of Health determines they are safe and effective when
used in accordance with the manufacturer's directions.
(4) Use of cyanuric acid-based chlorine (or
any other chlorine stabilizer) is prohibited. Pools found using or containing
any cyanuric compound shall be closed, drained and refilled prior to continued
use.
(5) Test kits/testing. DPD
test kits with reagents no more than one year old capable of measuring pH and
chlorine or bromine residuals, shall be available at each pool. Tests shall be
conducted and recorded for pH and free and total chlorine or bromine residual
at the beginning, during, and at the end of each swimming period. Where
required, reagents for alkalinity and hardness tests shall be available. Where
ozone generating equipment is installed, ozone testing shall be conducted in
accordance with section
6-1.29, item 11.5.1 of this
Subpart.
(d) Chemicals.
When the permit-issuing official determines that pH is not consistently
maintained within the required limits, positive feed equipment shall be used to
maintain the pH at levels required in this section. The methods for addition of
pool water treatment chemicals must be specified and approved in the safety
plan. The method of chemical addition must protect the bather from contact with
concentrated chemicals. The method must provide adequate distribution of the
chemical throughout the pool and distribution must be verified by pool water
testing prior to bather exposure. Only chemicals approved for water supply use
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as food additives by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration, or by the State Commissioner of Health, shall be used
in swimming pools. Where equipment for chemical addition is required it shall
be installed and operated in accordance with section
6-1.29, item 11.0, of this
Subpart. All chemical containers, including those used with chemical feeders,
must be clearly labeled regarding their contents.
