Swimming Pools Regulations, 2005

L.N. 129 of 2005

PUBLIC HEALTH ACT

(ACT No. XIII of 2003)

Swimming Pools Regulations, 2005

IN exercise of the powers conferred by subarticle 26(iv) of the

Public Health Act, the Minister of Health, the Elderly and Community

Care has made the following regulations:-

(1) These regulations may be cited as the Swimming Pools Title.

Regulations, 2005.

L IVELLI MINIMI GĦALL - PARAMETRI MIKROBIJOLOĠIĊI

L IMITI

N OTI

PARAMETRU

Heterotrophic plate count

<=10 cfu kull 100 ml

Jekk okkażjonalment jinstabu ‘colony counts’ għola, dawn huma

(HPC)

wara li ssir

aċċetabbli sakhemm ebda ‘faecal coliforms’ huma preżenti u il-

inkubazzjoni f’ 37 o C

kundizjonijiet operattivi tas-swimming pool huma sodisfaċenti.

għall 24 siegħa

Swimming pools għat-tagħlim u għat-terapija bl-ilma.

Faecal coliform u jew E.

<1 cfu kull 100 ml

Għas-swimming pools disinfettati.

coli

Swimming pools mhux disinfettati, ‘hot tubs’, ‘whirlpools’,

‘spas’, swimming pools għat-tagħlim u swimming pools għat-

terapija bl-ilma.

Faecal streptococci

<1 cfu kull 100 ml

Għas-swimming pools disinfettati.

Swimming pools mhux disinfettati, ‘hot tubs’, ‘whirlpools’,

‘spas’, swimming pools għat-tagħlim u swimming pools għat-

terapija bl-ilma.

<1 cfu kull 100 ml 1

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Għas-swimming pools disinfettati, swimming pools għat-tagħlim

u għat-terapija bl-ilma

<10 cfu kull 100 ml 1

Swimming pools mhux disinfettati, hot tubs, whirlpools u spas.

<1 cfu kull 100 ml 1

Staphylococcus aureus

Kull tip ta’ swimming pool

<1000 cfu kull litru 2

Legionella

Għall whirlpools, spas u kull tip ieħor ta’ swimming pool skond

ir-regolament 4 (1)(c)

Jekk in-numri jinstabu għoljien (>100 cfu kull 100 ml), l-operaturi tas-swimming pool għandhom jiċċekjaw iċ-ċarezza ta’ l-ilma, ir-

residwi tad-disinfetant u il-pH, jerġaw jittieħdu kampjuni, issir backwash sħiħa, tistenna iċ-ċiklu sħiħ jgħaddi u wara jerġaw jittieħdu

kampjuni. Jekk il-livelli tal-P. Aeruginosa u jew Staphylococcus aureus jibqgħu l-istess, is-swimming pool għanda tingħalaq u titnddaf

totali u jibda l-programm ta’ disinfezzjoni.

Fil-kas ta’ spa pools mhux klorinati, dbattil, tindif u mili tal-pools jew, alternivament, issaħħan l-ilma sa 70 o C u wara jiġi mkessaħ

għall-temperatura operativa normali matul il-perijodu li ma jintużax jista jkun biżżejjed biex tikkontrolla il-P. aeruginosa (kif ukoll il-

Legionella u l-Mycobacterium). Dawn il-miżuri jistgħu jintużaw meta il-livelli tal-P. aeruginosa jaqbżu 10 kull 100 ml.

Jekk il-cfu għall Legionella huwa aktar minn 1,000 u sa 10,000, il-kampjun għandu jiġi ikkonferamt immedjatament billi jerġa jittieħed

kampjun. Jekk in-numru jerġa jinstab simili, għandhu jsir reviżjoni tal-miżuri ta’ kontrol u risk assessment biex jiġi identifikat xi tip ta’

azzjoni rimedjat.

Jekk il-cfu għall-Legionella huwa akar minn 10,000 is-sistema għandha jittieħdilha kampjun immedjatament. Għanda wara tiġi ‘shot

dosed’ b’bioċida tajjeb, bħala prekawzjoni. Ir-risk assessment u l-miżuri ta’ kontroll għandhom jiġu riveduti biex tiġi identifikata l-

azzjoni rimedjata. Is-swimming pool trid tingħalaq immedjatament.

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires:- Definitions.

“authorised officer” means any duly qualified person

authorised by the competent authority to carry out any functions

under the Act and includes any nominated officer

“competent authority” means the Superintendent of Public

Health

“responsible person” includes manager or owner

“swimming pool” means a public or commercial swimming

pool which shall include any artificial basin intended for

recreational bathing, swimming, diving, or therapeutic purposes

which is located either indoors or outdoors and is provided with

controlled water supply and which is not used or intended to be

used as a pool at a single family residence unless it is used or

intended to be used for commercial or business purposes and

shall also include wading pools, spas, whirlpools, hot tubs,

diving pools and special purpose pools

‘Swimming Pools’ includes conventional pools used or

intended to be used for recreational bathing, swimming and

water recreation activities

‘Wading Pools’ includes pools principally used or intended

to be used for wading and recreational bathing by small children

‘Spas’ includes whirlpools, hot tubs and pools used for

recreational bathing which are used in conjunction with high

velocity air systems, high velocity water circulation systems,

hot water, cold water, mineral baths or any combination of these

items

‘Diving Pools’ includes pools used only for diving or

training and practice of diving techniques: and

‘Special Purpose Pools’ include pools used exclusively for

a particular purpose, including but not limited to water flumes,

pools for scuba diving instructions, therapeutic pools,

hydrotherapy pools, floatation vessels and pools used in aquatic

programmes for handicapped persons.

L IVELLI MINIMI GĦALL - PARAMETRI FIŻIKO - KIMIKALI

L IMITI

PARAMETRI

NOTI

pH

7.2 – 7.6 pH

Il-valur aġġusatat ta’ l-pH ġeneralment jiddependi fuq jekk id-

disinfettant użat hux minnhu innifsu ‘alkaline’ jew aċiduż. 1

Turbidita

0.5 NTU

Meta s-standard ta’ t-turbidita jinqabes , iffisser kemm

deterjorazzjoni sinjifikanti fil-kwalita ta’ l-ilma u periklu

sinjifikanti għas-saħħa.

1 – 3 ppm (mg/l) 2

Free chlorine

Residwi ta’ Free Chlorine fis-swimming pool il fuq minn 5ppm

(mg/l) jista joħloq bażi ta’ periklu għas-saħħa lill min jużaħ.

Kloru kombinat

Massimu normali 0.5 ppm

Livelli għoljin jindikaw li hemm wisq ammonja ġejja minn

(mg/l) jew inqas

għaraq w urina mill-għawiema, li juri n-numru ta’ għawiema

Massimu assolut 1.0 ppm

jew it-tniġġis mill-għawiema huwa għoli ħafna jew it-taħlita

(mg/l)

hija baxxa ħafna.

Cyanuric acid 3

30 ppm (mg/l) – massimu.

Jekk il-livelli huma għola min 100 ppm (mg/l), il-kondizjonijiet

approx. 60 ppm (mg/l)

mikro bioloġiċi jistgħu issiru mhux sodisfaċenti.

Jekk il-livelli huma għola minn 200 ppm (mg/l), dawn jistgħu

joħolqu periklu sinjifikanti għas-saħħa.

Residwi magħmula

1 – 6 ppm (mg/l)

Meta disifettanti magħmula minn bromine ikunu qedin

minn Bromine

jintużaw mal-ozone, il-konċentrazzjoni ta’ bromine ion

għandha tiġi monitorrjata u tinżamm f’15 – 20 ppm, (mg/l) il-

ħin kollu.

Mhux preżsenti 4

Nitriti

Mhux preżenti 4

Ammonja

Total ta’ solidi li

<3,000 ppm (mg/l) –

jinħallu

idejalment 1,500 ppm (mg/l)

Disinfettanti alkaliniċi – sodium u calcium hypochlorite ġeneralment jirrikjedu biss li żżid l-aċidu biex tikkoreġi il-pH, normalment

taħlita ta’ sodium bisulfate, carbon dioxide jew hydrochloric acid.

Disinfettanti aċidużi – Gas tal-kloru u trichloroisocyanuric acid normalment jirrikjedu biss li żżid alkali, ġeneralment taħlita ta’ sodium

carbonate (soda ash), biex tgħolli il-pH.

Huwa rekkomandat li l-operaturi jaspiraw għal residwi ta’ free chlorine ta’ 1ppm (mg/l) madwar is-swimming pool. F’swimming pool

li jkun operat tajjeb huwa possibli li żżomm f’kull parti l-kwalita ta’ ilma tajba b’livell massimu ta’ inqas minn 2ppm (mg/l).

Ikun hemm bżonn residwi iktar baxxi ta’ free chlorine (0.5 ppm (mg/l) jew inqas) bl-użu addizjonali ta’ l-ozone. Ikun hemm bżonn

livelli għola (2-3 ppm (mg/l) għall-spa u swimming pools għat-terapija bl-ilma, minħabba in-numru għoli ta’ għawiema, temperaturi

għolja, li jwasslu għal telf malajr fir-residwi ta’ disinfettant u tkabbir ta’ mikro-organiżmi.

Cyanuric acid jinstab f’swimming pools jekk in-nisġa tal-kloru huwa minn chlorinated isocyanurate compounds. Cyanuric acid jintuża

wkoll bħala stabiliżatur tal-kloru.

Jekk preżenti, l-ilma tas-swimming pool irrid jiġi mħallat b’ ilma frisk u wieħed irrid jiċċekja is-sistema ta’ filtrazzjoni u jagħmel

backwash. Din trid tiġi ripettuta sakhemm il-preżenza ta’ nitriti u ammonja jiġu eliminati mil-ilma tas-swimming pool. Jekk jinstabu

livelli eċċessivi, huwa rakkomandat li s-swimming pool tingħalaq sakhemm isir il-manutenzjoni neċċesarja.

(1) (a) The owner and the manager of any swimming

pool shall not permit the use of any swimming pool in his

premises without having previously registered in writing, on

the appropriate form, the said pool with the competent authority.

(b) Particulars and other information given on the

registration form shall not be misleading, inaccurate and

incomplete.

(c) The competent authority shall keep a register of all

swimming pools registered.

(2) Registration of swimming pools under this regulation

shall not exempt the owner and or manager from any obligation to

apply for and acquire the necessary licences or permits that may be

required by any competent authority.

PERJODI MINIMI TA ’ ’ TURNOVER ’ GĦAS - SWIMMING POOL

Ir-raġuni li tagħti attenzjoni sew lill perijodi ta’ ’ turnover ’ huwa li tiżgura li l-ilma kollu huwa servut

adekwatament. Ilma trattat għandu jintlaħaq f’kull parti tas-swimming pool, u l-ilma mniġġes irrid jitneħħa,

speċjalment mil-parti li l-iktar tintuża u l-iktar iffullata mill-għawiema. Jekk dan ma jsirx, l-anqas trattament

tajjeb bl-ilma ma jagħtiex kwalita ta’ ilma tajjeb.

P ERJODI TA ’ ’ TURNOVER ’ RAKKOMMANDATI GĦAS - SWIMMING POOLS

TIP TA ’ SWIMMING POOL

PERJODU TA ’

TURNOVER

Swimming pools għal-kompetizjonijiet 50metru

3 – 4 siegħajt

twal

Swimming pools konvenzjonali sa 25 metru twal

2.5 – 3 siegħajt

b’parti baxxa ta’ 1metru.

Swimming pool għal-għads

4 – 8 siegħajt

Swimming pool għat-terapija bl-ilma

0.5 – 1 siegħa

Leisure water bubble pools

5 – 20 minuta

Leisure waters sa 0.5 m fond

10 – 45 minuta

Leisure waters sa 0.5 – 1 m fond

0.5 – 1.25 siegħajt

Leisure waters 1 – 1.5 m deep

1 – 2 siegħajt

Leisure waters over 1.5 m deep

2 – 2.5 siegħajt

Spas

5 – 15 minuta

Teaching/learning/training pools

0.5 – 1.5 siegħajt

Water slide splash pools

0.5 – 1 siegħa

Dan huwa il-ħin tejoretiku meħud għal volum ta’ l-ilma totali tas-swimming pool biex jagħddi darba miS-sistema ta’

filtrazzjoni. Ġie ppruvat li jkun hemm bżonn ta’ mill-inqas 7 periijodi sħaħ ta’ turnover qabel 99% ta’ l-ilma tas-

swimming pool jkun vera għadda mill-filtri.

(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to inform

the competent authority of any change in the information given on

the registration form within 28 days from such occurrence.

N UMRU MASSIMU TA ’ GĦAWWIEMA 1

In-numru massimu ta’ għawiema huwa xi drabi mfisser bħala għawiem kull 3m 2. Dan jagħti n-

numru massimu ta’ għawiema għas-swimming pool kollha, irrispettivament mill-fond, etc., u f’kull

każ għandu jiġi modifikat fis-sens tat-tip tas-swimming pool.

I N - NUMBRU REKOMANDAT TA ’ GĦAWIEMA

TIP TA ’ SWIMMING POOL

IL - FORMOLA TAN -

NUMBRU MASSIMU TA ’

GĦAWWIEMA

Għawwiem kull 2.2m 2

Ilma mhux fond (taħt 1 metru)

Għawwiem kull 2.7 m 2

Livell fond bil-wieqfa ta’ l-ilma (1 – 1.5 m)

Għawwiem kull 4 m 2

Ilma fond (il- fuq minn 1.5 m)

Bl-użu tal-formola in-numru ta’ għawwiema miksub, li huwa in-numru massimu ta’ għawwiema

fis-swimming pool f’kull ħin, ma għandux jinqabes. Jekk in-numbru massimu ta’ għawwiema

jinqabes, huwa ikkunsidratt li jkun hemm riskju ta’ inċidenti mhux aċċetabbli minħabba

għawwiema li jidħlu f’xulxin, jew li jerqu, etc., u li jkollu impatt fuq is-sistema biex iżżomm ilma

ta’ kwalita tajba .

Matul l-istadju tad-disinn ta’ swimming pool ġdida, il-formola biex taħdem in-numbru massimu

disinjat ta’ għawwiema hija 2

In-numru massimu disinjat ta’ għawwiema =

Ir-rata ta’ ċ-ċirkolazzjoni ta’ l-ilma tal-pool (f’metri kubiċi kull siegħa)

1.7

In-numbru ta’ għawwiema huwa kejl ta’ numru ta’ għawiema fis-swimming pool. Is-swimming pools kollha għandhom

jiddentifikaw u jżommu relazzjoni realistika bejn in-numru ta’ għawwiema u swimming pool u il-kapaċita ta’ l-impjant

tat-trattament.

In-numru massimu disinjat ta’ l-għawwiema huwa in-numru ta’ għawwiema f’kull Turnover Period li l-apparat taċ-

ċirkulazzjoni u tal-filtrazzjoni jistgħu jżommu tajjeb mingħajr nuqqas fil-kwalita ta’ l-ilma. Dan iffisser li l-ilma tas-

swimming pool ma jibdiex issir mdardar min ħmieġ u trab eċċessiv, u l-livell ta Free Chlorine u il-livel ta’ pH jibqa fil-

limiti aċċetabbli madwar is-swimming pool kollha.

(1)

The responsible person shall

(a) Establish and make available to the competent

authority a pool safety operating procedure manual, which

should include normal procedures addressing injury and

accident prevention strategies. It should also include the daily

pool operation details, risks assessment, a plan of the pool

outlining hazards, access points, information points and

supervision requirements

(b) Provide evidence to the Competent Authority that the

water quality of the swimming pool has always been kept within Water quality

the recommended levels for the parameters listed in Schedule I monitoring.

and II of this regulation.

(c) Keep relevant records of all monitoring results which

may be carried out<

(d) Report to the competent authority any results which

may indicate that the water quality has exceeded the

recommended levels in Schedules I and II<

(e) Report to the competent authority and register any

cases of infections and, or accidents<

(f) Comply with any conditions or guidelines, which the

competent authority may issue from time to time.

DISINFETTANTI U SISTEMI TA ’ DISINFETTAZZJONI GĦAS - SWIMMING POOLS

DISINFETTANTI UŻATI

DISINFETTANTI UŻATI INQAS

DISINFETTANTI UŻATI

MHUX FREKWENTAMENT ,

FREKWENTAMENT

FREKWENTAMENT

F ’ SWIMMING POOLS KBAR

SPEĊJALMENT

F ’ SWIMMING POOLS ŻGĦAR

W UŻATI ĦAFNA

Kloru

Bromine

Bromine chloride

ƒ Gas

ƒ Bromine likwidu

ƒ Calcium/sodium

ƒ Bromochlorodimethylhydantoin UV

hypochlorite

(BCDMH)

ƒ Sodium

ƒ Sodium bromide + hypochlorite

UV – ozone

dichloroisocyanurate

ƒ Electrolytic generation

Iodio

Ozone/kloru f’taħlita

Hydrogen peroxide

Chlorine dioxide

fidda/rham

Chlorine dioxide/kloru

Biguanide

f’taħlita

Varjeta ta’ disinfettanti jintużaw fit-trattament ta’ l-ilma tas-swimming pool. Dawk mniżżla fl-ewwel

kollona jirrapreżentaw l-akbar użu, speċjalment f’ swimming pools pubbliċi u semi-pubbliċi li huma kbar u li

jintużaw ħafna. Bl-eċċezjoni ta’ l-gas tal-kloru u l-ozone, dawn id-disinfettanti huma ukoll użati f’ħafna

swimming pools żgħar u semi-pubbliċi. Ftit minn dawn huma disinfettanti residwi i.e. huma preżenti fl-ilma

fejn l-għawwiema jkunu esposti. Dawn jipprovdu protezzjoni iktar kontra l-kontaminazzjoni b’agenti infettivi

sussettibli għall-disinfettazzjoni li jasal għall kuntatt mal-bniedem milli għall mad-disinfettant inniffsu.

Oħrajn, partikolarment ozone u UV, huma effettivi fil-punt tat-trattament biss. Disinfettanti mhux residwi

jintużaw ta’ spiss f’taħlita ma disinfettanti residwi.

The responsible person of any heated swimming pool shall: Heated swimming

pools.

(1) keep the pool water temperature between 27 o C and

30 C at all times<

(2) keep the pool hall ambient temperature always 1 o C

above the water temperature at all times< and

(3) keep the relative humidity inside the pool hall at 55%

to 65% RH at all time.

It shall be the duty of the responsible person to operate the Pool turnover

pools within his premises at the recommended minimum turnover periods

maximum bathing

periods and maximum bathing loads as indicated in Schedules III loads.

and IV of these regulations respectively.

(1) At all times when the pool is in use the water shall General

be sufficiently clear to permit a sacchi disc or a black disc 15 requirements

public pools Pool

centimeters in diameter on a white field, placed on the bottom of the Water Clarity.

pool at the deepest point, to be clearly visible from the pool deck.

(2) (a) A sign indicating the maximum bathing load Bathing load.

shall be conspicuously posted at the pool<

(b) The maximum bathing load should not be exceed at

any time when the pool is in use.

(3) Pool water shall be disinfected by any method normally

used for pool disinfection and by the use of any chemical listed in

Schedule V of this regulation.

(4) (a) The dressing rooms, hallways, toilet rooms,

shower rooms or other rooms to which patrons of pools have

access shall be kept clean, in good repair, and well ventilated

at all times.

(b) The floors of the pool deck and all shower rooms and

locker rooms shall be daily treated with a 0.5% chlorine solution,

or an equivalent fungicide.

(c) All persons shall bathe with warm water and soap

before entering the pool. Warm water at a temperature of 50 o C

(achieved within 1 minute of running the water at outlets), shall

be provided at showers convenient to the pool for this purpose.

(d) Toilet, wash hand basin and shower fixtures shall be

maintained in proper repair.

(e) Equipment rooms and all equipment shall be kept in

good repair and in a clean and hygienic condition

(f) Any persons known or suspected of having a

communicable disease shall not use the pool.

(a) A sign shall be conspicuously posted at the pool

entrances indicating the hours of use

(b) When the pool is not in use a CLOSED sign is to be

fixed next or over the hours of use sign.

(1) When any pool is found not to meet the requirements

of this regulation, or when a condition is found which may constitutes

a public health risk or a health nuisance to bathers or pool patrons,

the competent authority shall order such pool to be closed.

(2) The competent authority shall also order such closure

when there is significant evidence of communicable disease being

transmitted through use of the pool, when the public pool is being

operated in such a manner as to constitute a significant health

nuisance, or when imminent public health hazards exist.

B

Any person who fails to comply with any of the

provisions of these regulations shall be guilty of an offence under

the Act.

Legal Notice 77 of 1997 – Fees for the testing of water of Repeal

of L.N. 77

of 1997.

swimming pools regulations is hereby being repealed.

S CHEDULE I

M INIMUM L EVELS F OR M ICROBIOLOGICAL P ARAMETERS

P ARAMETER

L IMITS

R EMARKS

Heterotrophic plate

<=10 cfu per 100 ml

If higher colony counts are occasionally found, this is acceptable as

count (HPC)

following incubation

long as no faecal coliforms are present and the operating conditions

at 37 o C for 24 h

of the pool are satisfactory.

Teaching and hydrotherapy pools

Faecal coliform

<1 cfu per 100 ml

For disinfected pools

and/or E. coli

Non-disinfected pools, hot tubs, whirlpools, spas, teaching and

hydrotherapy pools

Faecal streptococci

<1 cfu per 100 ml

For disinfected pools

Non-disinfected pools, hot tubs, whirlpools, spas, teaching and

hydrotherapy pools

<1 cfu per 100 ml 1

Pseudomonas

For disinfected pools, teaching and hydrotherapy pools.

aeruginosa

Non-disinfected pools, hot tubs, whirlpools and spas.

<10 cfu per 100 ml 1

<1 cfu per 100 ml 1

Staphylococcus

All types of swimming pools

aureus

<1000 cfu per litre 2

Legionella

For whirlpools, spas and any other type of pools as per regulation 4

(1) (c)

If high counts are found (>100 cfu per 100 ml), pool operators should check water clarity, disinfectant residuals and

pH, resample, backwash thoroughly, wait one turnover and resample. If high levels of P. aeruginosa and/or

Staphylococcus aureus remain, the pool should be closed and thorough cleaning and disinfection programme initiated.

In the case for non-chlorinated spa pools, draining, cleaning and refilling the pools or, alternatively, heating water to

70 o C and cooling to normal operating temperature during non-use periods might be sufficient to control P. aeruginosa

(as well as Legionella and Mycobacterium). These measures could be used when levels of P. aeruginosa exceed 10 per

100 ml.

If cfu for Legionella is more than 1,000 and up to 10,000, the sample should be confirmed by immediate re-sampling.

If similar count is found again, a review of the control measures and risk assessment should be carried out to identify any

remedial actions.

If cfu for Legionella is more than 10,000, the system should immediately be re-samples. It should then be ‘shot dosed’

with an appropriate biocide, as a precaution. The risk assessment and control measures should be reviewed to identify

remedial actions. The pool is to be immediately closed.

S CHEDULE II

M INIMUM W ATER L EVELS F OR P HYSICO -C HEMICAL P ARAMETERS

P ARAMETER

L IMITS

R EMARKS

pH

7.2 – 7.6 pH

PH value adjustment will generally depend on whether the

disinfectant used is itself alkaline or acidic. 1

Turbidity

0.5 NTU

Exceedance of turbidity standard suggests both a significant

deterioration in water quality and a significant health hazard.

1 – 3 ppm (mg/l) 2

Free chlorine

Free chlorine residuals above 5 ppm (mg/l) in swimming pool

water may present a health-based hazard to users.

Combined Chlorine

Normal max. 0.5 ppm

High levels indicate that there is too much ammonia coming from

(mg/l) or less

sweat and urine of bathers, indicating that bathing loads or

Absolute max. 1.0 ppm

pollution from bathers may be too high or that dilution is too low.

(mg/l)

Cyanuric acid 3

30 ppm (mg/l) – max.

If levels higher than 100 ppm (mg/l), microbiological conditions

approx. 60 ppm (mg/l)

may become unsatisfactory.

If levels higher than 200 ppm (mg/l), this may pose a significant

health hazard.

Bromine-based

1 – 6 ppm (mg/l)

When bromine-based disinfectants are used with ozone, the

residuals

concentration of bromine ion should be monitored and maintained

at 15 – 20 ppm (mg/l) at all times.

Absent 4

Nitrites

Absent 4

Ammonia

Total Dissolved

<3,000 ppm (mg/l) –

Solids

ideally 1,500 ppm (mg/l)

Alkaline disinfectants – sodium and calcium hypochlorite normally require only the addition of an acid for pH

correction, usually a solution of sodium bisulfate, carbon dioxide or hydrochloric acid.

Acidic disinfectants – chlorine gas and trichloroisocyanuric acid will normally require the addition of an alkali, usually

a solution of sodium carbonate (soda ash), to raise pH

It is recommended that operators aim for a free chlorine residual of 1 ppm (mg/l) throughout the pool. In a well

operated pool it is possible to maintain good water quality with a maximum level at any single point always below 2 ppm

(mg/l).

Lower free chlorine residuals (0.5 ppm (mg/l) or less) will be required with the additional use of ozone. Higher levels

(2-3 ppm (mg/l) may be required for spa and hydrotheraphy pools, because of higher bathing loads, higher temperatures,

which lead to more rapid loss of disinfectant residual and growth of microorganisms.

Cyanuric acid is found in pools if the chlorine source is chlorinated isocyanurate compounds. Cyanuric acid is also

used as a chlorine stabilizer.

If present, pool water is to be diluted with fresh water and one should check the filtration system and carryout

backwash. This should be repeated until the presence of nitrites and ammonia are eliminated from the pool water. If

excess levels are found it is recommended that pool will be closed until the necessary maintenance is completed.

S CHEDULE III

M INIMUM P OOL W ATER T URNOVER P ERIODS 1

The purpose of giving close attention to the turnover periods is to ensure that the whole water is adequately

served. Treated water must get to all parts of the pool, and polluted water must be removed, especially from

areas most used and most polluted by bathers. If not, even good water treatments may not give good pool

water quality.

R ECOMMENDED P OOL T URNOVER P ERIODS

T YPE OF P OOL

T URNOVER P ERIOD

Competition pools 50 m long

3 – 4 h

Conventional pools up to 25 m long with 1 m

2.5 – 3 h

shallow end

Diving pools

4 – 8 h

Hydrotheraphy pools

0.5 – 1 h

Leisure water bubble pools

5 – 20 min

Leisure waters up to 0.5 m deep

10 – 45 min

Leisure waters 0.5 – 1 m deep

0.5 – 1.25 h

Leisure waters 1 – 1.5 m deep

1 – 2 h

Leisure waters over 1.5 m deep

2 – 2.5 h

Spas

5 – 15 min

Teaching/learning/training pools

0.5 – 1.5 h

Water slide splash pools

0.5 – 1 h

This is the theoretical time taken for the total pool water volume to pass through the filtration system once. It has been

proven that at least 7 complete turnover periods are needed before 99% of the pool water has actually passed through the

filters.

S CHEDULE IV

M AXIMUM B ATHING L OAD 1

The maximum bathing load is sometimes defined as 1 bather per 3 m 2 . This gives a maximum

bathing load for the whole pool, regardless of depth, etc., and must in any case be modified in the

light of type of pool.

R ECOMMENDED B ATHING L OADS

T YPE OF P OOL

M AXIMUM B ATHING

L OAD F ORMULAE

1 bather per 2.2 m 2

Shallow water (under 1 m)

1 bather per 2.7 m 2

Standing depth water (1 – 1.5 m)

1 bather per 4 m 2

Deep water (over 1.5 m)

The bathing load obtained using these formulae is the maximum bathing load of the pool at any

one time, should not be exceeded. If the maximum bathing load is exceeded, it is considered that

there will be an unacceptable risk of accidents due to bather collisions, or drowning, etc., and

would have a impact on the system to maintain good water quality.

During the design stage of a new pool the following formula is to be used for the calculation of the

Maximum Design Bathing Load 2

The Maximum Design Bather Load = Pool Circulation Rate (in cubic meters per hour)

1.7

Bathing load is a measure of the number of people in the pool. All pools should identify and maintain a realistic

relationship between bathing numbers and pool and treatment plant capacity.

The Maximum Design Bathing Load is the number of bathers per Turnover Period that the circulation and filtration

equipment can successfully support without losing water quality. This means that the pool water will not begin to get

cloudy through excessive dirt and debris, and the Free Chlorine level and pH value will remain within acceptable limits

throughout the entire pool.

B

S CHEDULE V

D ISINFECTANTS AND D ISINFECTING S YSTEM FOR S WIMMING P OOLS

D ISINFECTANTS USED MOST

D ISINFECTANTS USED LESS

D ISINFECTANTS UNSED

FREQUENTLY IN LARGE ,

INFREQUENTLY , MAINLY

FREQUENTLY

FOR SMALL - SCALE POOLS

HEAVILY USED POOLS

Chlorine

Bromine

Bromine chloride

ƒ Gas

ƒ Liquid bromine

ƒ Calcium/sodium

ƒ Bromochlorodimethylhydantoi

UV

hypochlorite

n (BCDMH)

ƒ Sodium

ƒ Sodium bromide + hypochlorite

UV – ozone

dichloroisocyanurate

ƒ Electolytic generation

Iodine

Ozone/chlorine in

Hydrogen peroxide

combination

Silver/copper

Chlorine dioxide

Biguanide

Chlorine dioxide/chlorine in

combination

A variety of disinfectants are used for pool water treatment. Those listed in the first column represent the major usage,

especially in public and semi-public pools that are large and heavily used. With the exception of chlorine gas and ozone,

these disinfectants are also routinely used in many small and semi-public pools. Some of these are residual disinfectants

i.e. they persist in water and are present in the water to which pool users are exposed. These provide increased

protection against contamination with infectious agents susceptible to disinfection and leads to human exposure to the

disinfectant itself. Some others (notable ozone and UV) are effective at the point of treatment only. Non-residual

disinfectants are often used in combination with residual disinfectants.

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