Frequently Asked Questions: Recreational Water

Training

Q: Is there a list of training providers? If not, what is the standard for deeming an operator to be trained as required in the regulation?

A: Operators of public pools and spas must be trained in the safe operation of the facility. While there is no specific training course identified in the regulation, it does state that the operator must be trained in water facility operation and maintenance, filtration systems, water chemistry and all relevant safety and emergency procedures. Various training courses and resources are available through local public health units and industry providers. WDG Public Health offers a free Pool and Spa E-Learning Course.

Safety

Q: Are cell phones an accepted emergency phone at public pools and spas?

A: No. Public pools and spas must ensure there is a working emergency telephone in accordance with subsection 16(1) of the regulation. However, for wading pools, the regulation only requires that a device for emergency communication be provided, this may include a cell phone. 

Supervision

Q: How can public pool operators determine if children are able to swim to comply with the new admission standards?

A: Swimming competency tests should be administered by lifeguards and are used to evaluate the skill level of swimmers before entering certain/deeper parts of the pool or water. Operators should consult with experts about specific processes that will work at their facility.

Q: What is a traditional swim test?

A: A child under age 10 is assumed to be a “non-swimmer” upon admittance to the pool, which is why Reg. 565 (Public Pools) requires a guardian or designated person to supervise them. A child aged six (6) to ten (10) years may be determined to be a “swimmer” if they are able to demonstrate comfort in the water and pass the facility swimming competency test.

Q: How do public wading pools with a water depth of 15 cm or less qualify for an exemption from attendant supervision?

A: The owner or operator must (1) notify their local public health office that they will not be providing an attendant for supervision, (2) develop a written safety plan to be made available on request to any person, and (3) display the following notice, printed in letters at least 25 mm high, in a conspicuous location within the wading pool enclosure:

Q: What must be included in a safety plan for a wading pool?

A: The written safety plan must:

• Identify and describe health and injury risks to pool users of the facility
• Identify and describe safety strategies, procedures, or rules to prevent, control, and/ or minimize those risks
• Outline procedures to respond to serious injuries, emergencies, and critical incidents to ensure they are handled in a safe and efficient manner
• Describe how health and safety incidents that occur will be recorded and identify actions to mitigate future incidents
• Describe how the plan will be communicated to employees and other relevant parties.

Safety equipment

Q: I operate a class B pool do I have to have a buoy line?

A: Yes. If you have a pool that has a slope greater than 8 percent, a buoy line must be available.   

Q: How do I know if my pool has a slope that is greater than 8 percent?

A: You should check with your local building department. The Ontario Building Code requires all public pools to have hooks for a buoy line where the pool slope measures 8 percent or greater.

Q: How do I measure the slope?

A: For class B pools, to calculate the slope of the steepest part of the pool for purposes of determining whether a buoy line must be conveniently located for emergency use, it is suggested to divide the difference in depth between the shallow and deep ends of the slope, by the distance between the two points, then multiply by 100.

Water quality

Q: What are the requirements for water chemistry?

A: Section 7 (8)(9)(10) of Ontario Regulation 565 sets out upper and lower limits for water chemistry parameters including chlorine/bromine, pH, total alkalinity, cyanuric acid and oxidation reduction potential (ORP).

Water Chemistry Requirements

	Indoor Pool	Outdoor Pool	Spa	Hot Water Pool (≥ 35°C)	Wading Pool	Splash Pad (recirculating systems)	Cold Plunge Pool	Floatation Pool	Floatation Tank
FAC or Total Bromine	0.5–10 ppm 2–4 ppm	1–10 ppm 2–4 ppm	5–10 ppm 5–10 ppm	5 - 10ppm 5 - 10ppm	5–10 ppm 5–10 ppm	1–10 ppm* 2–10 ppm*	5 - 10ppm 5 - 10ppm*	5 – 10ppm 5 – 10ppm*	1.5 – 5ppm 2.5 – 5ppm
pH	7.2–7.8	7.2–7.8	7.2–7.8	7.2 - 7.8	7.2–7.8	7.2–7.8*	7.2 – 7.8	7.2 – 7.8	7.2 – 7.8
Total alkalinity	60 - 180ppm	60 - 180ppm	60 - 180ppm	60 - 180ppm	60 - 180ppm	60 - 180ppm*	60 – 180 ppm*	80 – 120pm*	80 – 120ppm
Cyanuric acid	Not used	Less than 60 ppm (only if pool uncovered)	Not used	Not used	Less than 90 ppm*	Less than 90 ppm*	Less than 90 ppm* (outdoor use only)	Not used	Not used
ORP	600–900 mV	600–900 mV	600–900 mV	600 - 900mV	600–900 mV	600–900 mV*	600 – 900mV*	600 – 900 mV*	600 – 900 mV
UV Disinfection	Not required	Not required	Not required	Not required	Not required	Required	Not required	Required	Not required

*These values are not specified in the regulation; however, for safe operation of the facility we have adopted them as best practice.

Note: Ontario Regulation 565/90 (Public Pools) does not specify the water chemistry requirements for waterslide receiving basins. As best practice, they should be operated following the water chemistry requirements for indoor and outdoor pools (as applicable).

Q: Why are there upper limits for Free Available Chlorine (FAC) and total bromine?

A: Upper limits have been set to ensure operators can still accurately measure chemical parameters. For example, issues have arisen when sanitizer levels are extremely high and operators cannot measure FAC and continue to add more sanitizer without realizing that the test reagent is bleaching out. Where lower maximum levels are stated on the product label by the manufacturer, these levels should be followed. 

Q: What if my total alkalinity is outside of the prescribed range?

A: While maintaining proper total alkalinity (TA) levels within the required range is important in the operation and maintenance of the pool (i.e., preventing pH bounce, scaling and corrosion of equipment) it is not critical to the safety of the bathers. If your TA is outside of prescribed range this will show as a non-critical item on your inspection report.

Q: How often do I have to manually test my water chemistry?

A: You must manually test the water chemistry 30 minutes before opening to the public and every 2 hours during operation, unless you have an automatic sensing device, in which case you must test every 4 hours during operation.

Q: What is the definition of an automatic sensing device?

A: Section 1 (1) gives the following definition for automatic sensing device:
“Automatic sensing device” means a device that,

1. Determines and continuously displays,
   1. Sanitizer residual in a public pool or public spa’s water, and
   2. Potential hydrogen (pH) value of a public pool or public spa’s water, and
2. Regulates the operation of chemical feeders to maintain sanitizer and pH levels in accordance with this Regulation.”

Q: What if my system only displays ORP and pH values? Does this still meet the requirements for an automatic sensing device?

A: Yes. Manual testing is required 30 minutes prior to opening and then every 4 hours during operation.

Q: Why is there a maximum level set for cyanuric acid (CYA)?

A: CYA is used to help maintain sufficient levels of FAC in outdoor pools by protecting the chlorine from UV degradation. Studies have shown however, that when levels of CYA are greater than 60ppm, the contact time required to inactivate microbial contaminants in the water is substantially increased, therefore decreasing the effectiveness of chlorine as a sanitizer.  CYA is not to be used in indoor pools, partially covered pools, or all spas. 

Pool Fouling

Q. Someone pooped in the pool. What do I do?

A. Immediately close the pool and follow the “Pool Fouling Responses” outlined in Appendix E of the Recreational Water Reference Document. Keep a copy of these directions at your facility so you can access them quickly when a pool fouling occurs.

Exemptions

Q: I rent out my private residential pool/spa to the public and I’m exempt from the regulation. Do I have to do anything?

A: Yes. If you make your private residential pool or spa open to the public, with or without charging an access fee, you must display the following notices in a conspicuous location in the pool/spa enclosure in letters at least 25 mm x five mm).

For pools:

For spas:

General

Q: When should I close my pool?

A. Whenever a health or safety hazard to bathers exists. Some examples of when you should close the pool include the following:

• If sanitizer levels are too low
• If pH is outside of allowable range
• Unable to observe black disc because of poor water clarity
• If there is no black disc
• If there is no safety equipment available
• If the emergency phone is not working
• If there has been a pool fouling