Illnesses from pool use: Guidance for pool and spa operators

Guidance for water recreation facility owners and operators to prevent recreational water illnesses

• Disinfection and water treatment

  • Maintain minimum disinfectant levels at all times.
    • If you allow the disinfectant level to come down below the minimum requirement even for a short while, bacteria can grow and establish biofilm, where they hide from disinfectant when the level comes back up.
    • Learn your facility and equipment behavior so that you can keep the water quality under control at all times.
    • Anticipate high demand on disinfectant (e.g., large group of people using the facility and strong sunshine) and prepare for the drop in disinfectant level by starting at a disinfectant level higher than usual or cranking up the disinfectant feeder.
  • Maintain pH in the correct range. If the pH is too high, disinfectant cannot kill germs effectively.
  • Make sure equipment, such as the recirculation system, filter, and overflow outlets, are functioning appropriately and are maintained
• User behavior

  • Provide safe and accessible diaper-changing areas. Do not allow diaper changing at poolside.
  • Encourage/require bathers to take cleansing showers before using the facility.
  • Provide plastic, rubber or vinyl pants for incontinent pool users.
  • Reinforce that users should not drink pool water.
• Prepare for issues and act quickly

  • Immediately use procedures outlined in pool contamination guidance documents if visible contamination has occurred in the pool water (Fecal Incident Response Guidelines).
  • Provide training for staff, including the
    • Washington Department of Health Pool & Spa Conference
    • Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO) Courses
    • Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) Certification
  • Report illnesses associated with a facility to Public Health