Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024
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.
