10-144 C.M.R. ch. 202, § 3 - MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION

A. Pool and Spa Supervision Responsibility

1. No public pool or spa may be used or presented as available for use, unless maintained and operated in compliance with all of the requirements of subsections 3(A) (2) - (4), and the appropriate standards listed in subsections[DEGREE]2(B)(2) - (6).

2. Every public pool or spa must retain a pool supervisor who is fully capable of, and shall assume responsibility for, compliance with all requirements relating to pool operation, maintenance and safety of bathers. This person shall qualify as one of the following: (a) a Certified Pool-Spa Operator® (CPO), certified by the National Swimming Pool Foundation; (b) a Professional Pool and Spa Operator (PPSO), certified by the Pool & Hot Tub Council of Canada; or (c) have equivalent training acceptable to the Department. (C)

a. The pool supervisor is responsible for training the onsite personnel in the basic operation of the pool, including, but not limited to, water testing and record keeping, water clarity, pool rules, hours of operation, eligible patrons, and pool closure procedures.

b. Only the pool supervisor may handle any sanitizer (chlorine, bromine, etc.).

c. If the owner is using a pool management service, this service must visit the site at least once per week and is responsible for adding chemicals and training the on-site personnel in Section 3(A)(2). This weekly visit does not replace the requirement for the pool supervisor's duties within this Section.

3. Routine (e.g., daily and weekly) operating procedures must be permanently posted in a location accessible to, and frequented by, the operator. They must also be available for viewing by representatives from the Department.(C)

4. Manufacturers' instructions for operation and maintenance of mechanical and electrical equipment must be kept available for the operator and representatives from the Department. (C)

5. Chemical storage areas must be locked at all times.

B. Clarity of Water

1. The recirculation and purification system must be operated and maintained, so as to keep the public pool or spa water clean and clear. The pool and spa water circulation system must operate continuously for 24 hours per day, unless the pool or spa is closed for maintenance or repair for the season, in order to ensure proper water clarity and chemical distribution. Under no circumstances may the public pool or spa be used if the main drain is not clearly visible from the deck. Any pool or spa closed by the Department must not be reopened until the water is clean and clear, and upon specific written approval of the Department. (C)

2. The water of every wading pool must be kept sufficiently clear, so that the bottom of the wading pool is visible at all times. (C)

C. Chemical Operational Parameters

The public pool or spa water must be continuously disinfected by a sanitizer that imparts an easily measured residual. The sanitizer used must be subject to field testing procedures that are simple and accurate. Sanitizers listed in Appendix A of these Rules must be maintained within the following ranges: (C)

Sanitizer Levels for public pools and spas:

1. If chlorine is used for sanitization, the free chlorine residual should be maintained between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm in public pools and 4.0 -5.0 ppm in public spas. The maximum free chlorine residual must not exceed 4.0 ppm for public pools and 8.0 ppm for public spas. Stabilized chlorine use is prohibited in indoor pools. See also Appendix A(1).

2. If bromine is used for sanitization, the bromine residual shall be maintained between 3.0 -5.0 ppm in public pools and 6.0-8.0 ppm in public spas. The maximum bromine residual must not exceed 7.0 ppm for public pools and 10.0ppm for public spas.

3. pH must be maintained between 7.2 and 7.8. See Appendix A for additional information.

D. Polyhexamethylene Biguanide

Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) for sanitation is prohibited in commercial public pools and spas. (C)

E. Elemental Chlorine Gas

Elemental chlorine gas for sanitation is prohibited in commercial public pools and spas. (C)

F. Cleaning Systems

A built-in or portable-type vacuum cleaning system must be provided, that is capable of removing sediment from all parts of the public pool floor. When jet-type units are used, they must be provided with approved type backflow protection for the water system. (C)

G. Operation Records

1. The operator of each public pool or spa open for use must keep a record of information regarding operation, including readings of sanitizer residual, and pH at least 3 times per day or more, (one of which is the result of a manual reading). If using chlorine as a sanitizer, combined chlorine must be collected and maintenance procedures documented, (such as cleaning of filters and quantity and types of chemicals used) once per day. Total alkalinity, calcium hardness and cynauric acid (if used) must be tested once per week. Data collected must be maintained for at least 1 year, and must be available, upon Department request. (C)

2. Appropriate test kits for measuring pH and concentration of the sanitizer used must be provided at each public pool and/or spa. The test kit must be a DPD test kit with the FAS-DPD preferred. The test kit must be capable of testing free and combined chlorine, pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness and cyanuric acid (if used). Reagents must not be over 1 year old. OTO kits and test strips are not permitted. (C)

3. During public pool events, the operator must increase supervision and monitoring of sanitizer residual, pH, and maintenance, beyond typical daily operation. (C)

4. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) must be completed and available for inspection by the Department.

Notes

10-144 C.M.R. ch. 202, § 3