Maintenance of Public Pools and Spas
For the safety of its users a public pool or spa must be well maintained. The information on this page will help guide the person responsible for public pool or spa maintenance.
A responsible person may be one of the following: An on-site manager, a maintenance person, another employee, or the property owner. The responsible person must be (a) knowledgeable in pool operations, (b) able to correct violations or call the pool service, and (c) authorized and able to immediately close the pool.
Please post this information in the equipment room.
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WATER CHEMISTRY
A responsible person is expected to perform the following duties at least once a day, every day of the week, preferably before the pool is opened for use:
Free chlorine levels should be maintained between 2 and 3 ppm at all times. If the free chlorine level falls below 1.0 ppm, (or 1.5 ppm when cyanuric acid is used) the pool will be closed by the Department of Health Services (DHS). Free chlorine levels for a spa must be maintained between 3-10 ppm. If the spa falls below 3 ppm, the spa will be closed by DHS. Combined chlorine must be maintained below 0.4 ppm.
The pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of water and directly affects the disinfecting action of chlorine as well as other reactions occurring in water. Maintain the pH between 7.2 and 7.8.
A test kit capable of testing for free chlorine (DPD test kit) and pH must be provided on site. Use your test kit to check free chlorine and pH at least once a day. A pool operation log with daily chlorine and pH readings and weekly cyanuric acid readings must be maintained and made available to DHS personnel.
Stabilizers (cyanuric acid) or conditioners may be added to the pool water directly. Cyanuric acid levels must not exceed 100 ppm. Recommended levels are 20-40 ppm. If the level exceeds 100 ppm, the pool will be closed by DHS until the concentration is brought down within acceptable levels.
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
All pools must have the following:
- A sign saying “Warning: No lifeguard on duty” for pools without lifeguards and “Children under the age of 14 should not use pool without an adult in attendance.” A sign stating “No Diving Allowed” is required for pools less than 6 feet deep.
- A sign with illustrated procedures for artificial respiration.
- A sign with emergency telephone number 911.
- Occupant load sign showing maximum number of bathers allowed in pool or spa at any one time (Pool = one bather for every 20 square feet of water surface area; Spa = one bather for every 10 square feet of water surface area).
- Warning sign for spa pools which cautions against use under certain conditions.
- A life ring with attached safety line long enough to span the maximum width of the pool.
- Twelve-foot long rescue pole with body hook.
- If a spa is present, a sign for the emergency shut-off switch must be posted.
EQUIPMENT
All parts of the pool and related pool facilities and equipment shall be maintained in good repair, including fences, gates, showers, restrooms, chlorinators, pumps, filters, flowmeters, and pressure gauges.
For further information for California public pool regulations please refer to the California Department of Public Health website.