Public Swimming Pools
What are Public Swimming Pools?
A public swimming pool is any structure, chamber or tank containing an artificial body of water used by the public for swimming, diving, wading, recreation or therapy.
What is the swimming pool permitting process?
There is an annual *fee to operate a public swimming pool, spa or wading pool. An application must be filed in the Environmental Health office along with the fee before an operation permit is issued. The permit has to be renewed each year.
*FEE: please check with the Health Department for the current fee.
There are two classifications of pools… year-round and seasonal.
Year-round pools are permitted from January 1 through December 31 each year. Year-round pools require two inspections per year by an environmental health specialist.
Seasonal pools are permitted from April 1 through October 31. Seasonal pools require one inspection during the operation season by an environmental health specialist.
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Swimming Pool Requirements
Before scheduling an inspection, please check to make sure the following minimum criteria are met to help streamline the permitting process:
- Water clear enough to see the main drain
- Chlorine at least 1.0 ppm (or bromine at least 2.0 ppm or biguanide between 30 & 50 ppm). Chlorine in wading pools must be at least 2.0 ppm
- pH between 7.2 & 7.8
- Heated pool water <90°F or heated spa water <104°F
- Body hook (non-adjusting, at least 12ft long) and ring buoy with 1.5 times pool width (or 50 ft, whichever is less)
- Emergency telephone capable of directly dialing 911 provided within 75 feet of pool entrance. If phone is not visible from pool, a sign with directions to the phone must be posted
- Address of pool and dialing instructions must be posted at the phone (ex. "Dial 911" or "Dial 9" to get outside line and then dial "911")
- Depth markings on pool walls and decks with units indicated in “FEET” or “FT” must be visible
- “No Diving” markers on pool deck in areas <5ft deep must still be visible. Letters must be at least 4” high and of a contrasting color with pool deck
- Signs stating “CHILDREN SHOULD NOT USE THE POOL WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION” and “ADULTS SHOULD NOT SWIM ALONE”. The lettering for these signs must be at least 1” high. A “WARNING – NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY” sign with 4” lettering is required if the pool operates any portion of the operating hours without a lifeguard
- “Effective April 1, 2006 all public swimming pools with a single main drain shall be protected from potential bather entrapment by a safety vacuum release system installed on the drain piping and single drains smaller than 12 inches in diameter shall be protected by an anti-entrapment drain cover meeting AMSE/ANSI A112.19.8M Standard that is incorporated by reference including any subsequent amendments and additions.”
Any immediate threat to public health or safety not listed above could result in permit denial. Please contact the Carteret County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health at 728-8499 if you have any questions regarding your pool.
Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act
The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act was enacted by Congress and signed by President Bush on December 19, 2007. Designed to prevent the tragic and hidden hazard of drain entrapments and eviscerations in pools and spas, the law became effective on December 19, 2008. Under the law, all public pools and spas must have ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 compliant drain covers installed and a second anti-entrapment system installed, when there is a single main drain other than an unblockable drain.
For more information about the VGB Act you can go to:
ww.poolsafety.gov/vgb.html
www.poolsafety.gov/index.html
Compliance with ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 Suction Fittings for Use in Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs
Virginia Graeme Baker Act
Virginia Graeme Baker Letter |
